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IBEXtrax.com - Cascade Mountains of Washington StateAlpine Lakes Wilderness |
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03 110 Malachite Peak from Purvis Lake SW Peak to right
From the shores of Purvis Lake one sees the Northwest face of Peak. This small but interesting rock peak is named for the presence of malachite ore, a carbonate of copper. 1974
03 111 Purvis Lake from Malachite Peak
Purvis Lake rests in the Northwest cirque of Malachite Pk. From the outlet its waters drop to the Miller River that flow out to meet the Skykomish River at the once named Berlin townsite.
05 035 Invisible Purvis Lk hiker or Warrens gear
A JanSport frameless pack stands to ketch the warm rays of the spring morning sun. Loaded to the max for snow camping plus bulging Millet Sac add-on-pockets we were ready for the climb up to Purvis Lake. On the flat map the route from the car to the lake is less than two miles. But you need to add the thirty-five sixty vertical to realize the scope of the effort that lays ahead.
05 036 Looking down the Foss R to Mt Baring
Looking down the East fork of the Miller River toward Baring Mountain. This side of Baring is Grotto Mountain the highest point on Klinger Ridge. Grotto Mtn is mislabeled on the USGS map. At the foot of the ridge along Highway 2 and the Skykomish River is the unincorporated community of Grotto. Grotto was supposedly named for the numerous gorges in the area.
05 037 Rudi M and Tony go for water at Purvis L
A pair of snowshoers, with cook pots in hand, head for the outlet of Purvis Lake to get water. The lake is tucked under the NW face of Malachite Pk, 3500ft and only 2mi above the Miller R.
05 038 Automatic Wilderness Can Opener
As the Cascade Mountain alpine traveler gains more and more experience, they quickly learn the importance of carrying equipment that can be used for more than one purpose. One such item that easily conforms to the multi-use strategy is the ice axe. With an ice axe you can dig a cat hole to plant a loaf; chop steps going up and use it as a brake going down. And of course, the Automatic Alpine Wilderness Can Opener.
05 039 Rudi M & Tony at Purvis Pass
The high point this trip was resting rock at Purvis Pass. The avalanche conditions were too high for an attempt on Malachite Peak this day. We would return the next weekend for another attempt on the summit of Malachite Peak.
05 040 Warren stuffs the wine at Tony's in Everett
It was harder to compress the JanSport for this next trip to go and attempt to climb Malachite Peak. I only added one more thing.
05 042 Rain Shelter Purvis Lake Malachite P
A makeshift rain shelter (not tent) at Purvis Lake below Malachite Peak.
05 043 Malachite Peak reviled between rain showers
For a brief moment during a spring time rain shower, Malachite Peak is revealed between the ominous clouds. From this view on the shores of Purvis Lake, one sees the Northwest Face of the Peak. This small but interesting rock peak is named for the presence of malachite ore, a carbonate of copper. Malachite Peak had been climbed in August of '74. But, avalanche conditions were too high for an attempt on this day.
05 044 The Observatory above Purvis Lk camp
An open dome rock formation we called The Observatory above Purvis Lake camp.
05 045 The Observatory near Purvis Lake
Closely west of Purvis Pass is an interesting rock outcrop that looked to have a half open domed roof. The climbers first thought it looked like "Pac Man". But, they eventually named it "The Observatory". The rock is located on the southern end of Maloney Ridge that is named for John Maloney who discovered limestone near the summit in 1890. A cable tramway once carried the limestone product to a cement plant at Grotto.
05 046 Two Face near Purvis Lake
On the east flank of Purvis Pass the climbers summitted and then named "Two Face" Rock; an extension of Maloney Ridge. John Maloney first came to the area as a railroad surveyor. He took up a land claim in 1890 at the mouth of the creek that bares his name and later opened the first store in Skykomish in 1893. John Maloney's General Store still stands today as part of the Skykomish Historic Commercial District.
05 047 Rudi M at the snowshoe practice area
He boasted with a laugh, "My snowshoes are better than your Sherpa Snowshoes. They cost way less and grip on the steep far better."
05 048 John B and Rudi M below Purvis Pass
John has one of everything in his pack and Rudi wants some of it.
05 049 Warren contributes to delinquency of Rudi M
The summit celebration wine was renamed "getting down to the top of the logging slash" wine.
03 111m Purvis Lake Malachite Peak Map
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