July 4, 2012 - Daniel

Nicole and I celebrated the 4th by skipping out of work at 4 and driving out towards Cle Elum. After driving past the fourth snowmobile rust pile on the side of the road, you keep going on the forest road until you get your third major automobile malfunction, and then you need to cross a large creek, in your car, and drive the last 3 miles to the trailhead.

Upon arriving at the trailhead for Squaw Lake and Mt Daniel, it was a bit cloudy and the rain had just started. Weather was supposed to be clearing, but we didn't feel much like walking up just to camp out in the rain... plus the total trip is only 12 miles, so we decided to just camp in the car.

Nicole setting up camp in the car

Ice and early morning light on Squaw Lake

We strolled up the trailhead after throwing down a quick breakfast and made our way up to Squaw Lake and along the seemingly endless ridge towards Cathedral Rock. We tackled the traverse around Cathedral rock in the morning, but the existing steps allowed us to avoid putting crampons on. From the viewpoints near Peggy's Pond, the rest of the route to E. Daniel along the SE ridge was in clear view.

E. Daniel and Cathedral Rock before the traverse

Nicole with Cathedral rock behind

We slogged up snow for several hours and finally began the rock scramble to gain the saddle just below E. Daniel. We had long ago passed our turn around time to make it back to Seattle for the evening festivities, thanks to the long drive ahead of us on the forest road, but we decided to turn around just short of the East peak to get out in the light.

And good thing we did, as the routefinding proved a bit difficult on the way out... we were a bit lazy in the trees where the snow started to fade out, and the trail was pretty hard to follow. We realized that the trail we were on was leading us too far along the ridge, so we cut a descending traverse across a steep forested slope and then plunge stepped down the forest duff until we hit the main trail again. Given that it was almost evening time, we were both relieved to find the trail, and an easy walk out to the car.

Nicole happy to see Ru again