06/16/14 Unnamed 5620, Albert Point 5986', and Unnamed 5620 #43, #44, and #45

Albert Point from Unnamed 5620

You will notice that I have two peaks as Unnamed 5620.  I am not counting the same peak twice.  There just happened to be two peaks on either side of Albert Point at the same elevation.  I had been looking at this loop for some time.  The weather was not looking to be too good, but after having spent the weekend up at Granite Park in Glacier National Park in the rain and snow I was reminded that I can tolerate being wet.  I wanted to boost my numbers and this three-peak loop would be a great one to do, even in the rain.

I drove up the Albert Creek Road to the end and parked my car.  Then I rode my bike back down the road maybe two miles to where I would start hiking.  I took my bike across the creek and stashed it off the old road.  Then I started hiking up the old road.  The weather was actually perfect.  It wasn't raining yet and the clouds kept the temperature great for climbing.  I gained elevation as the road switchbacked up the mountainside.

Unnamed 5620 from below Albert Point

As I neared the beginning of the trail it sprinkled a bit.  I found the trail and started up it.  From there it wasn't too far before I was on top of the first Unnamed 5620.  The trail had been nice up to the top and the views over to Albert Point were good.  I could see the clouds were moving in a bit and I figured that before long it would rain.

I moved off the summit on the trail and started descending to the saddle.  The weather was still holding and I began climbing up Albert Point.  Somewhere about half-way between the saddle and Albert Point it started raining.  I walked through it a bit and then decided I would stop and wait a bit to see if it would pass.  I found a large Douglas fir and stood against the trunk as the rain blew in.  I started cooling off and realizing that the rain may stick around for a bit so I put on my rain gear and continued to wait.

Waiting out the rain

After some time and figuring the rain was settled in for a bit I decided to just hike in it.  I left the cover of the tree and started back up the trail.  The brush was wet and my feet started getting pretty wet.  I carried on, though, and as I neared the top the rain slowed down.  I didn't really have much for a view, but I wasn't getting dumped on any longer.  I hit the few spots that seemed like they could be the high point and then continued along the trail as it dropped off the other side of Albert Point.

Just past the next saddle I found the trail I would be taking back down to Albert Creek and eventually my car.  I was struggling with knowing if I should attempt to get up the third summit.  By that point, the rain had stopped and the clouds broke enough to let through a little sunshine from time to time.  That was all I needed to decide to go for it.

I carried on the trail that was headed toward Petty Mountain and climbed to another high point.  I knew from looking off Albert Point about where I needed to leave the trail to get out to the last summit.  I knew once I left the trail it would be the end of any semblance of dry in my shoes.  I was right.  All the brush was soaking from the earlier rain and as I moved through it the water left the leaves and blades of grass and soaked my rain pants, dripping down them to my shoes.  My feet were very wet in just a few steps.

Jumbled saddle

I followed the flat ridge out to where it started dropping to the last saddle with Unnamed 5620.  Here it became a bit steep and a bit thicker with the brush and trees.  I carefully made my way down the slope and found my way to the saddle.  At the saddle the trees were very thick and there was a lot of downfall that made the navigation slow and tedious.  Once around the downfall and headed up the other side it opened up a bit and I climbed to the last open summit.  I sat up top and ate some food and looked across at the first Unnamed 5620 and Albert Point.  It had been a fun journey and I knew that I now stood on the least-visited summit of the three.

Bridge over Albert Creek

After enjoying the summit for a bit I headed back down to the jumbled saddle and then up the other side.  Once across the ridge and back to the trail I knew my feet could begin to walk the water out of my shoes.  They never did dry completely, but they didn't get wetter either.  I followed the trail back down to the junction and then headed down that to Albert Creek.  It was beautiful down there with thick, green brush and large trees.  I was pleased to find a bridge to cross the creek and then I climbed up the other side to the junction with the trail I needed to get back down to my car.  This was the same trail I had taken on May 20th when I climbed Unnamed 5810.

I quickly made my way down this trail to the trailhead.  It had rained just a bit while I was on the trail from the last summit, but it had been on and off and light enough that I never put my rain gear back on.  I was happy to reach my car as I was tired and wet.  I just needed to retrieve my bike and the trip was complete.  It had been a great day.  I had climbed three peaks I had wanted to get up for some time.  Despite the rain, I had enjoyed myself.

Elevation gain:  4200'     Total gain:  71,750'