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MCA Suicides Trips
by Roy Smith, Scree
On Saturday, August 24, six of us met at the Carrs Huffman coffee shop around 9:00 and set sail in typical fair weather winds for the Falls Creek trailhead. Four hours of easy uphill scrambling gave way to a rewarding summit. Everyone in the group was easy-going and kept track of each other real well. We were: Ray and Bernie Destacio, Mike Paoletti, Dee Lewis, Dennis Morford and me. We made it a real enjoyable trip.
The trail is very direct, and mainly follows Falls Creek up to brush line, to where it peters out as a small hanging valley. You then see the summits slowly emerge as you head for the saddle and follow the ridge up to the summit of South Suicide Peak. Good views all around. The weather was trying hard to spoil it, but failed. There was virtually no wind until we reached the saddle, where a 20° drop in temperature was felt with a slight breeze. At the summit we were met by snow flurries, the first of the season. These changed to heavy flakes as we descended. As we passed a half-drained tarn back to the hanging valley, the snow stopped, the termination dust disappeared, and then later in the evening, returned for good.
The condition of the trail was slick and muddy, but plenty of alders provided hand holds. The berries were plentiful, with lots of salmonberries, watermelon berries, crowberries, blueberries and raspberries. Lots of Dall sheep dotted the hillside and some hawks (or eagles) hovered overhead.
I was out-voted on continuing toward North Suicide Peak, so I will plan another trip to return to climb it one day. It gives me a good excuse to return to this pretty little valley; good access to several summits.
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