Since this trip, I have been informed by several individuals that the summit of Baldy Peak is on private property. I have not been able to confirm this, so I suggest that anyone interested in visiting the top first take the time to find out for themselves.
With fresh powder dropping everywhere of interest in the cascades, and still no snowshoes, my eyes turned to a few small knobs near Enumclaw.
I started the day with St Paddy's Peak just South of Kanaskat-Palmer State Park. From 343rd Ave SE I took the second left and parked at the gate. It drizzled as the Automan and I ascended the grassy logging road the 1.3 miles to the summit. We were greeted with better views than expected from such a low peak.
Next stop was nearby Baldy Hill, where I met up with 2 friends with a schedule for the day. It should be noted that the Hancock Timber Co. purchased this land from Weyerhauser and now charges for motorized and non-motorized access. After turning South up a well-beaten path just past the power lines, the hike turned into a serious bushwhack.
This summit provides substantial views to the Southwest and Southeast, including Pinnacle Peak, Mud Mountain and The Three Sisters. While researching the hike I came across records of late 19th century newspaper articles which reported explosions and smoke from Baldy Hill, and speculated that it erupted.
Three things are certain:
1. It has been confirmed that the peak was once volcanically active,
2. The City of Enumclaw says the name means "thundering noise"
3. There are rock formations on the summit that look suspiciously similar to cooled molten rock.
We managed to stay on a few of several named horse trails on the return and avoided any further bushwhacking. I've included only the gpx track from the decent for clarity.
My friends did not have time to join me on an attempt on Radio Peak so decided instead to head to Pinnacle Peak, which they had both climbed before. The well-groomed Cal Magnuson Trail was a pleasant change from all the road walking. The Columnar Basalt along the trail below and north of the summit is beautiful. I was surprised to find foundation blocks from a fire lookout tower that once stood at the top.
Not quite satisfied and with a still-energetic pup, I returned to the north and engaged in some more road hiking on the way up another small peak west of St Paddy's. I have only seen this peak strangely named "Bayne Existence" in a few searched on the web. From Cumberland-Kanaskat Rd to the East, several semi-smooth looking rock faces are visible near the top. I found the summit itself to be hardly worth the trip through thick sticker bushes and devil's clubs surrounding it, but being so close, I suffered through and brought my poor dog with :p
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