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Get Out and Go Member
Joined: 13 Nov 2004 Posts: 2127 | TRs | Pics Location: Leavenworth |
Hit The Trail and Steve were planning a return to the area, so I tagged along (behind) with the professionals. I had already visited Star and the Finney Lakes, as well as West Oval a few years back, so time to visit the other Ovals.
We left the West Buttermilk TH and immediately came to the knee-deep crossing of the creek. Soon after that were the first of dozens of trees across the trail. None were challenging, but they were a major annoyance. It was a breezy day, so bugs were not an issue. We set up camp at the lower end of Star Meadow, in the exact same spot as on a previous trip. It's a wonderful setting, with only a group of three others up by the lake.
Plodding Along to the Pass Star Peak Breaking Over the Pass Looking Back Eastward Destination Meadow Delightful Star Basin Home More Delight Interesting Rock at Star Marmot Mansion
The next day, we followed the ancient tread of a high route that leaves the lower meadow and trends out toward Gray. This route stays higher than the Chelan Summit Trail, but is not indicated on any map. Steve said that there are pieces of this old high route, once used by sheep-herders, along most of this stretch of the Sawtooths.
Boyz on the High Route Gazing at Mountains Ancient Tread on the High Route Finney
We gained the ridge top above the Oval Lakes Basin and it was quite the sight. We easily followed a rib down to Middle Oval, and then a bit farther over to East Oval, where the fishing was quite satisfying. On the return, Steve had excess energy to burn, so he soloed over to Gray and Tuckaway Lake before looping back to camp via the Chelan Summit Trail. Bugs were a bit more prevalent on the 2nd day, but still not that bad.
Oval Peak and Buttermilk Ridge Whole Lotta Mountains! Oval Lakes Spectacular Rock Faces Route Down to the Lakes Easy Travel Impressive Middle Oval Lake Middle Oval Lake East Oval Lake Steve on the Right Skyline
We got an early start the next morning to beat the heat out. By the time I reached the creek crossing, Steve and Lloyd were waiting on the other side. I decided to try my luck on a single log crossing a bit upstream. I couldn't quite muster the nerve to walk it, but had luck with an a cheval technique, scooting and lifting to avoid the pokey parts of the log.
Fabulous trip, guys! We'll do another one.
"These are the places you will find me hiding'...These are the places I will always go."
(Down in the Valley by The Head and The Heart)
"Sometimes you're happy. Sometimes you cry.
Half of me is ocean. Half of me is sky."
(Thanks, Tom Petty)
"These are the places you will find me hiding'...These are the places I will always go."
(Down in the Valley by The Head and The Heart)
"Sometimes you're happy. Sometimes you cry.
Half of me is ocean. Half of me is sky."
(Thanks, Tom Petty)
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Fletcher Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Posts: 1870 | TRs | Pics Location: kirkland |
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Fletcher
Member
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Fri Jul 13, 2018 2:04 pm
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Beautiful back in there.
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HitTheTrail Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 5452 | TRs | Pics Location: 509 |
Geeze, your are as bad as Wildernessed. With that nice photo essay you pretty much got it covered. Thanks for taking your camera along to make a great trip even better. It seemed a little longer than the last trip up there, maybe it was the blowdown. But well worth it nonetheless. And ok company.
Get out and go crossing the creek East Fish Ck valley with snow capped Mts on the other side of Lake Chelan Star Lake from Fish Ck Pass Looking back on our camp from the high route to Oval Lakes. Chelan summit trail in valley on right Steve on high route with Gray as a backdrop Steve at the top of Fish Creek Pass Get Out and Go and HitTheTrail on the high route saddle as taken by Steve from the top of Gray Can you see Steve on Gray Evening happy hour Steve and Get Out and Go heading home from Fish Creek Pass
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
🤙 Nice photos of Buttermilk Ridge and it’s peaks along with Gray was this an AARP prompted trip ? 🤔 Anyhow I am hiking and running an expect to be Back in Black next week no mercy, no quarter !
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
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HitTheTrail Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 5452 | TRs | Pics Location: 509 |
wildernessed wrote: | ....expect to be Back in Black next week no mercy, no quarter ! |
Oh, may God have mercy on our souls!
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Get Out and Go Member
Joined: 13 Nov 2004 Posts: 2127 | TRs | Pics Location: Leavenworth |
Quote: | ...was this an AARP prompted trip ? |
Hit The Trail and Steve were rejected by AARP for being over-fit for their ages, the way they buzz up the trail. Me...not so much.
"These are the places you will find me hiding'...These are the places I will always go."
(Down in the Valley by The Head and The Heart)
"Sometimes you're happy. Sometimes you cry.
Half of me is ocean. Half of me is sky."
(Thanks, Tom Petty)
"These are the places you will find me hiding'...These are the places I will always go."
(Down in the Valley by The Head and The Heart)
"Sometimes you're happy. Sometimes you cry.
Half of me is ocean. Half of me is sky."
(Thanks, Tom Petty)
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Joe Biden Member
Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 248 | TRs | Pics
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HitTheTrail Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 5452 | TRs | Pics Location: 509 |
ImTheScientist wrote: | WHAT! No fishing? |
Actually, them two dudes spent most of the day fishing. Many fish were caught and humanely released back into the Ovals so they can continue to over populate and remain stunted.
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Brushbuffalo Member
Joined: 17 Sep 2015 Posts: 1887 | TRs | Pics Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between |
You guys have just way too much fun!
Get Out and Go wrote: | Interesting Rock at Star |
This is granite ( you knew that) and the horizontal "layers" are fractures along a very prominent joint set. Joints are like faults in that the rock breaks but unlike faults there is no relative displacement of opposite sides of the fracture.
Would make a nice yard ornament. Next time sneak it into Steve or Lloyd's pack!
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
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HitTheTrail Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 5452 | TRs | Pics Location: 509 |
Brushbuffalo wrote: | Next time sneak it into Steve or Lloyd's pack! |
Would be nice in a rock garden but .....sorry no rocks are going in my pack. I even cut the top 2" off my titanium cooking pot to save a few grams!
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