Cumulus Mtn. and Ferine Point Hike

PrezwoodzPrezwoodz Registered Users Posts: 1,147 Major grins
edited December 18, 2005 in Landscapes
Hello! I hiked these peaks earlier this year when the snow was first starting to fall and I don't think I ever shared it with you guys here. In anticipation of using the new camera for outdoors pictures with hopes theres no noise issues :uhoh I am gonna post this hike. Pics taken with my unlces 2mp cannon so they are not the sharpest but I think the scenery helps make up for it! Enjoy.

Dano and I had decided to do our first peak together since Cantata and we decided on Cumulus. Dano had already been up to Ferine point in the winter time and had wanted to do Cumulus. We parked at the nature center and headed towards Kiliak Road. We walked the road for a while until we found a path on the right which looked like it lead up the mountain. We walked this path which we had a little trouble following at times because they had newly bulldozed a road right through parts of the trail. Before long we were beyond the bulldozed sections and heading up the gully to obtain the ridge leading to Ferine Point. The dew from the morning was still pretty strong as we had started out around 11am. This meant wet pants and shoes as the grass had grown over the trail pretty well. Some of the brush had started to wilt though with the oncoming of fall.

We reached the ridge after only a bit over an hour and looked down into Ram Valley. To be honest it looked like it would be easier to hike up Ram Valley and just ascend the small part to the ridge from where we stood. However it was nice to get out and be on a trail that I had not been on before. We headed directly up the ridge toward Ferine. There had been very little cloud cover and the only clouds that were around were literally appearing in front of us. It was still a pretty warm day with a chilly wind and blue skies. The ridge hike to Ferine was pretty uneventful except for the absolutely beautiful views from all angles.

When we did get to Ferine Point we saw lots of sheep grazing and by the time we made it to Cumulus we had counted around 30 of them. Instead of heading the same way back down that we came we were going to go out the way that Dano had gone out before. He was not 100% on the direction since the last time he was up there was during a winter trip from the MCA. He did manage to lead us well down the maze of gullies that lead to a nice trail following the river and headed out into a private property area. We saw 2 black bears, around 15 goats, and more sheep on the down climb. We hiked out the private property area past a sign that read “PRIVATE PROPERTY – NOT THE TRAIL” and had the picture of hikers crossed out on it. It was weird there was no trail there because it sure seemed like one. We were back at the car by 6:30pm and had another awesome hike!

[Thanks to Dano for the use of his camera!]

Dano heading up on the ridge towards Ferine.
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More hiking along the ridge.
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Raina Peak
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I am hiker man Eagle River. hear me roar!
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Pleasant Mountain
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Checking out future climbs
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Korohusk in all of its glory.
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Bellicose and Peters Peak
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Signing the register at Cumulus.
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Coming over the final section of the ridge to Cumulus
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Valley below Polar Bear - Anyone know the ascent path into this valley? How about the difficulty?
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Descent Path
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Polar Bear - How could I go in there and not take a picture of Polar Bear like this?
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Comments

  • AllenAllen Registered Users Posts: 10,013 Major grins
    edited December 17, 2005
    Wow, I'm dizzy just looking . What a wonderful and beautiful
    area to explore, you're very lucky. Pics are great, even though
    only 2meg. Thanks for sharing.
    AL
    Al - Just a volunteer here having fun
    My Website index | My Blog
  • PrezwoodzPrezwoodz Registered Users Posts: 1,147 Major grins
    edited December 17, 2005
    Thanks! I feel pretty lucky to. This is basically my backyard. ;) Took probably 10 minutes to get to the trailhead from my uncles house. Took 15-20 minutes to get to his house from mine. Gotta love the million acre backyard. iloveyou.gif
  • rahmonsterrahmonster Registered Users Posts: 1,376 Major grins
    edited December 17, 2005
    Wow Prez, everytime I see you guys posting from Alaska, my determination to go there only gets stronger. This is just gorgeous. I love mountains. You are very lucky.
    www.tmitchell.smugmug.com

    Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life...Picasso
  • PrezwoodzPrezwoodz Registered Users Posts: 1,147 Major grins
    edited December 17, 2005
    You ever feel like coming up and hiking around some and need a guide let me know rahmonster. thumb.gif I'm cheap like free!
  • DixieDixie Registered Users Posts: 1,497 Major grins
    edited December 17, 2005
    Great series. thumb.gifthumb.gifthumb.gif

    I need to make it that way as well.
    Dixie
    Photographs by Dixie
    | Canon 1Ds | Canon 5D Mark II | Canon 5D | Canon 50D | Canon 10D | Canon EOS Elan 7 | Mamiya Pro S RB67 |
    ...and bunches of Canon lenses - I'm equipment rich and dollar poor!
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,940 moderator
    edited December 17, 2005
    I think you guys just want to tease us lower 48'ers :D

    AK is unforgettable. I'd like to spend some time in Denali. Down at the end
    of the road. Or maybe someplace where the float plane drops you off for a
    week by yourself.

    Ian
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • PrezwoodzPrezwoodz Registered Users Posts: 1,147 Major grins
    edited December 18, 2005
    In Alaska ian you just need to point a direction, fly 50 miles and your there by yourself. ;)
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