Trip Date: September 19, 2004
Three Brothers Mountain Day Climb
Stafford Creek
Freedom Pass
Falls Creek Pass
Three Brothers Mountain: southwest peak aka Southwest Brother (7303 ft)
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Teanaway Mountains
Area: Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest
Starting & Ending Point: Stafford Creek Trailhead on Stafford Creek Road (Elev. 3100 feet)
Way Points: Stafford Creek & Freedom Pass & Falls Creek Pass (trail hike)
Summit: Southwest Brother (off-trail hike & rock scramble via Southwest Ridge)
Approximate Stats: 13 miles traveled; 4900 feet gained & lost; 4.4 hours up; 3.4 hours down.
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>>> Three Brothers Summit Loop: Falls Creek Pass to Gold Creek Basin – June 19, 2009
Full Trip Report
With only cold, wet, and snowy weather in the weekend forecast, I headed east over Snoqualmie Pass with Suzanne, Janet, and Steve. We were joined on the trip by Don B, Sheila, Kim, and Stefan, riding in a separate vehicle. Our primary goal was the highest (southwest) peak of the Three Brothers Mountain in the Teanaway area, but it seemed for a while that we were all desperately trying to avoid any exposure to inclement weather. A series of comedic mix-ups in trying to meet at the Issaquah Park & Ride put us a half-hour behind schedule right from the get-go, then our two vehicles independently missed critical turnoffs en route to the Stafford Creek Trailhead. Eventually, though, we managed to reconvene at the correct jump-off point.
After starting up the well-maintained Stafford Creek Trail, our chatty group of eight kept a steady pace, quickly putting both the trailhead and the morning’s gaffes behind. The air was moist and chilly but the sky was mostly blue; yet again, the Teanaway region managed to outperform the “standard & poor” Cascade weather pattern…for now, anyway.
After about 4 miles of hiking, we crossed a stream at 4800 feet and then headed cross-country up a steep, open hillside until encountering a waterfall cliff at 5400 feet. Here, we veered right, re-crossed the stream, and continued due east up barren slopes composed of highly decomposed rock. We reached Freedom Pass, a broad 6000-foot saddle just north of Point 6442 (aka Freedom Peak), at 12:30pm (2.5 hours from TH).
- Southwest Brother From Freedom Pass
Our objective summit was clearly visible a mile to the northeast, but our weather was beginning to deteriorate. Apparently, the Teanaway rain-shadow had reached the limits of its abilities. Don, Steve, and Suzanne decided to make a quick side-trip up Freedom Peak while I marched the others on to Three Brothers. We enjoyed a leisurely hike over to Falls Creek Pass and up the peak’s southwest ridge, which features Class 1-2 terrain decorated with knarled pines and firs. The side-trippers caught us just as we topped out on the gentle summit (4.4 hours from TH).
- Group On Southwest Brother Summit
Despite the cold and fog, we socialized on top for nearly an hour. Surprisingly, there were two register tubes: a brass Mountaineers tube with a fairly new book, and an aluminum Alpine Roamers tube with a few paper scraps dating back to 1969. Signing in was an unfamiliar treat for Kim and Stefan, who haven’t yet been bitten by the summit bug. Actually, Sheila hasn’t either, but she does have to live with someone who is badly afflicted, and anyone who knows Don knows that Sheila deserves a medal for tolerance and fortitude!
We eventually packed up and descended to Falls Creek Pass, at which point Steve and Don announced that they were breaking off to tag Navaho Peak. The peloton continued traversing over to Freedom Pass, amidst increasingly heavy snowfall. It was a beautiful sight, but I also felt sad to see the curtain closing on summer. Farther down the hillside, the snowfall gave way to blue skies once again. Steve and Don rejoined us soon after we reached the trail, and we all had a pleasant hike back to the trailhead (3.5 hours from summit).
Photo Gallery
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