Mark waits patiently as we leave the trailhead lot with Cobb and Hyndman breaking the clouds far ahead.
Johnstone Peak captures some early morning light.
Mark and Terry passing through the aspen grove on the way to the Hyndman Creek trailhead.
Handwerk Peak and Goat Peak catch some morning sun as the clouds break ahead.
Salzburger Spitzl is shrouded behind Handwerk Peak as we arrive at the Hyndman Creek Trailhead.
Mark comes up across the snow machine tracks headed to the Pioneer Yurt. It's 9:30 AM.
Terry is right behind Mark, following along in a snowmobile track.
Terry heading up North Fork of Hyndman Creek.
We take a short break before heading up towards Button Creek where we'll depart the trail.
The snow was still frozen and solid through this section. Terry's skis are riding right on top.
Typical scenery up the Noth Fork of Hyndman Creek. Handwerk Peak is a distance marker. We approach Button Creek where we'll head left up the ridge.
The Button Creek ridgeline comes into view, which is our proposed route to the cabin.
A closer look. We'll need to make our way up through or around those rocks. In my case, right over the top.
We depart the trail and start toward the ridgeline route.
After a steep short section, this plateau opens up the view and a good brunch spot.
Terry and Mark work their way up towards the crux of the trip. Button Creek is off to the left and North Fork of Hyndman Creek to the right.
It's 11:15 AM and we stop for a recharge before heading up the rough part. Note how hard the snow is.
Once we top out of the trees, it's just a long ridgeline on solid snow. We know that Pioneer Cabin is up along the ridge, about even with Handwerk Peak.
A broader view shows how far above the Hyndman Creek trail we've climbed. It's just after 1:00 PM.
Salzburger Spitzl catches a bit of sun as the sky creates everchanging shadows across the landscape.
Now it's just a long plod up the slope, but with incredible views on either side when the clouds give way.
Off to the right of the ridge and over Walnut arise Hyndman, Old Hyndman, Cobb, and Jacqueline Peaks.
Looking back down the ridge gives a sense of just how far we've come. But I'm still hours away from the cabin. It's now 2:15 PM.
At 3:50 PM, I finally round the slope and take in the view. I'm exhausted and exhilarated.
Terry and Mark, waiting for me patiently. I hope.
I can barely see that Mark is sitting on the bench but behind several feet of snow.
goat peakhandwerk peakhyndman creekpanopioneer cabinsnowsnowshoe
