Forum Index > Trip Reports > Star Lake, Middle and East Oval Lakes - July 10-12, 2018
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Get Out and Go
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Get Out and Go
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PostFri Jul 13, 2018 1:59 pm 
Hit The Trail and Steve were planning a return to the area, so I tagged along (behind) with the professionals. huh.gif 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. shakehead.gif 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
Plodding Along to the Pass
Star Peak
Star Peak
Breaking Over the Pass
Breaking Over the Pass
Looking Back Eastward
Looking Back Eastward
Destination Meadow
Destination Meadow
Delightful
Delightful
Star Basin Home
Star Basin Home
More Delight
More Delight
Interesting Rock at Star
Interesting Rock at Star
Marmot Mansion
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
Boyz on the High Route
Gazing at Mountains
Gazing at Mountains
Ancient Tread on the High Route
Ancient Tread on the High Route
Finney
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. wink.gif 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
Oval Peak and Buttermilk Ridge
Whole Lotta Mountains!
Whole Lotta Mountains!
Oval Lakes
Oval Lakes
Spectacular Rock Faces
Spectacular Rock Faces
Route Down to the Lakes
Route Down to the Lakes
Easy Travel
Easy Travel
Impressive
Impressive
Middle Oval Lake
Middle Oval Lake
Middle Oval Lake
Middle Oval Lake
East Oval Lake
East Oval Lake
Steve on the Right Skyline
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. paranoid.gif Fabulous trip, guys! We'll do another one. up.gif

"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
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Fletcher
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PostFri Jul 13, 2018 2:04 pm 
Beautiful back in there. up.gif

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HitTheTrail
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PostFri Jul 13, 2018 3:46 pm 
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. up.gif
Get out and go crossing the creek
Get out and go crossing the creek
East Fish Ck valley with snow capped Mts on the other side of Lake Chelan
East Fish Ck valley with snow capped Mts on the other side of Lake Chelan
Star Lake from Fish Ck Pass
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
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 on high route with Gray as a backdrop
Steve at the top of Fish Creek Pass
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
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
Can you see Steve on Gray
Evening happy hour
Evening happy hour
Steve and Get Out and Go heading home from Fish Creek Pass
Steve and Get Out and Go heading home from Fish Creek Pass

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wildernessed
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Joined: 31 Oct 2004
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wildernessed
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PostFri Jul 13, 2018 5:20 pm 
🤙 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
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HitTheTrail
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PostFri Jul 13, 2018 6:02 pm 
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
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Get Out and Go
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PostMon Jul 16, 2018 7:39 pm 
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. shakehead.gif

"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
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Joe Biden
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PostThu Jul 19, 2018 6:03 am 
WHAT! No fishing?

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HitTheTrail
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PostThu Jul 19, 2018 6:46 am 
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
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Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between
Brushbuffalo
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PostThu Jul 19, 2018 8:00 pm 
You guys have just way too much fun!
Get Out and Go wrote:
Interesting Rock at Star
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! hmmm.gif

Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
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HitTheTrail
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PostFri Jul 20, 2018 8:46 am 
Brushbuffalo wrote:
Next time sneak it into Steve or Lloyd's pack! hmmm.gif
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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