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neek Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2011 Posts: 2338 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, WA |
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neek
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Fri Jul 20, 2018 5:40 pm
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I went to Slate Pass for the first time and did a 3-day loop that involved a camp site with a decent view
a colorful sunrise
pretty flowers
some peaceful lakes
prickly wildlife
and some mountains too
My loop, not quite as ambitious as some of the recent reports for this area, looked something like this:
Blue = trails from OpenStreetMap (often not very accurate in this region), orange = GPS, purple = hand-drawn
After a long drive, I started hiking Tuesday around 11, dropped down Slate Pass on the Buckskin Ridge trail, and took the connector to the Middle Fork Pasayten River trail. Note its incorrect location on some maps, too far north. I followed the trail along the river, passed the Ferguson Lake trail, and turned up the Eureka Creek trail, which I followed past Fred Lake and over the ridge to Lake Doris where I claimed one of several camp sites. No one else was there.
Cresting Slate Pass a couple minutes after leaving the car Looking down from Slate Pass Middle Fork Pasayten crossing. I had tennis shoes on so just walked across The entire MFP trail had just been cleared by a Forest Service team Freds Lake Freds Lake Three of the objectives coming into view: Osceola, Carru, Lago LYF Lake Doris
In the evening I strolled up Osceola and watched the colors change.
Hmmm Heading up Blackcap, Monument Storm to the NE Lake 6765 Looking back at Doris Lake What looks like a couple small fires View SW Carru and Lago Blackcap and Monument Lease Lake Back at camp
Bugs were present that evening, but not terrible. I dozed a bit the next morning and got a late start. Not wanting to drop over 1000 ft to Eureka Creek, I left the trail really early, thinking I might be able to hit the saddle between Osceola and pt. 7923 and follow the ridge. Not so! In retrospect there's probably a reason people don't do this. I had to drop quite a bit on loose terrain and cross a number of gullies. But I still managed to stay fairly high, as you can see on the map. I eventually found some nice solid rock and headed straight up, then followed the ridge just a little to the west to reach the summit.
Rolo Good so far Not good Ugh Crossing a gully Nice solid class 2 believe it or not Serious drop on the north side of Carru Lago from the summit of Carru Burnt Lease Creek valley Eureka Creek valley
I knew it wasn't possible to run the ridge to Lago, so dropped straight down, as far to the east as possible, now on scree, which made for quick descending. Poking around for a weakness in the cliffs, I finally found one near 7200 ft. From there it was a straightforward ascent to the west ridge of Lago, and then to the summit.
At 7200 ft between Carru and Lago. Don't see any weaknesses further up that wall so I think it's necessary to drop this far Heading up Lago Lago summit, looking back at Osceola and Carru Familiar names View to the east View from the summit of Lago showing my entire ridge route for the rest of the day. Smoke in the background Pt. 8165 (right), Dot (left), Ptarmigan (back)
Now on to unknown terrain. The plan was to follow the ridge all the way to Ptarmigan, minus pt. 8207 on the NE ridge of Lago, and while it looked possible on the map, I hadn't done much research. But it turned out the only trick bit was coming off pt. 8165. A short 4th class downclimb off the S side of the NW ridge led me to a gendarme which seemed impassible but upon ascending provided easy access to the remainder of the ridge.
Easy descent down the north side of Lago Along the ridge Burn Looking back Heading up pt. 8165 Slightly tricky Ridge magically opens back up Dot Lakes Dot Lakes and Peak 8165
Dot was straightforward - maybe a couple safe 3rd class moves. And coming down it was nothing. Here the terrain becomes nice meadow-walking, and I put my lightweight shoes back on. It was getting late, and when I reached the top of Ptarmigan it made sense to stay there. Despite the wind, I decided to forego the tent, and slept under the stars, barely staying warm enough.
Ptarmigan Peak Part of a skull Looking back at Dot View north from Ptarmigan Despite the gentle south slopes, the NE side of Ptarmigan is very rugged Fire blowing up in Canada Fading light Sunset
The third day was long and grueling. Before setting off toward Tatoosh Buttes I paused to take some morning pictures. The wind had finally died down but I had to climb back in the sleeping bag every few minutes to warm back up.
Clouds rolling over Tatoosh Buttes Jack Carru Baker
On the way over to Tatoosh Buttes, there weren't a lot of views, but plenty of flowers to keep me busy. From the buttes I headed west on the Tatoosh Buttes Trail through a burn and down down into the Pasayten River valley. The developed spring that Adam mentioned in a previous report was still intact and functioning beautifully. Things got a bit messy at the valley floor and maps don't quite depict the trails accurately. I found where the Middle Fork trail crosses the Middle Fork (there's a log across the trail and a sign warning that a landslide has made the crossing impassable by stock), and scooted across a log over deep water at the washout. The northern end of the Buckskin Ridge Trail begins soon afterwards. There was a lot of blowdown on this trail and I didn't realize it was 17 miles long with nearly 7000 ft of cumulative gain. This had me staggering back to the car at 11pm, exhausted but satisfied. If I had known what lay ahead I might have just taken the Middle Fork trail all the way back. All the up and down was demoralizing, and the views from the trail weren't really that great. But after all the rough stuff on the prior day, I was ready for plain old trail. I only passed one group this day, about 12 kids on some organized event. No big wildlife except for that porcupine, who was reluctant to leave the trail.
Paintbrush Lupine Elephant head View from Tatoosh Buttes I am not sure whom these trees were offering sap to, but I helped myself to a bit Devastation Lease Creek crossing Pasayten crossing Lake 6326 What is this thing? It's HUGE They were all over the trail at night Pasayten Peak (I think)
Link to a few pano shots and photospheres
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Michael Lewis Taking a nap
Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 629 | TRs | Pics Location: Lynnwood, WA (for now) |
Crushed it!
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Bernardo Member
Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 2174 | TRs | Pics Location: out and about in the world |
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Bernardo
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Fri Jul 20, 2018 6:01 pm
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Wow. Just wow. What great photo! I am reslly enjoyinh all the amazing trip reports coming in at this time of the year!
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Jake Robinson Member
Joined: 02 Aug 2016 Posts: 521 | TRs | Pics
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Really impressive solo trip. Lots of rough ground you covered!
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Opus Wannabe
Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 3700 | TRs | Pics Location: The big rock candy mountain |
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Opus
Wannabe
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Fri Jul 20, 2018 6:14 pm
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Glad to see that area more or less escaped the fire! I did a similar loop two years ago, but didn't end up doing Osceola, Carru, or Lago. It's also possible to go down to Dot Lakes from Dot Peak and traverse around Lago and back up to Shellrock Pass. Mostly easy terrain, minus one steep bit about halfway between the lakes and pass.
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Jake Robinson Member
Joined: 02 Aug 2016 Posts: 521 | TRs | Pics
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Opus wrote: | Glad to see that area more or less escaped the fire! I did a similar loop two years ago, but didn't end up doing Osceola, Carru, or Lago. It's also possible to go down to Dot Lakes from Dot Peak and traverse around Lago and back up to Shellrock Pass. Mostly easy terrain, minus one steep bit about halfway between the lakes and pass. |
True. Traverse south at treeline from Dot Lakes across a burned out basin. Cross over into another basin, drop an ugly gully into another burn zone, then climb boulders and easy open terrain to Butte Pass. Butte Pass to Shellrock is mostly burned now but easy travel.
Dot Lakes to Butte Pass
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awilsondc Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2016 Posts: 1324 | TRs | Pics
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Fletcher Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Posts: 1870 | TRs | Pics Location: kirkland |
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Fletcher
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Fri Jul 20, 2018 11:34 pm
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Wow, awesome photos Nick! One of my favorite corners of the Cascades.
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RichP Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 5634 | TRs | Pics Location: here |
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RichP
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Sat Jul 21, 2018 5:51 am
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Cool report and photos. It really brought back memories from a trip I did in 2008. That traverse between Oceola and Carru? Yeah, it was quite a lot of work with gully after gully after gully...
https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7969247
The traverse on the Lease Ck Divide is pretty well outlined in the 100 Summits book and I found it fairly straightforward from the Lago/Carru Col.
Dot lakes are looking as good as ever but Ptarmigan Ck is toast.
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Bootpathguy Member
Joined: 18 Jun 2015 Posts: 1791 | TRs | Pics Location: United States |
Experience is what'cha get, when you get what'cha don't want
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OutOfOffice Member
Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Posts: 91 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
Nice photos Neek
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Distel32 Member
Joined: 03 Jun 2014 Posts: 961 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, WA |
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Distel32
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Mon Jul 23, 2018 7:16 pm
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User-Name Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 312 | TRs | Pics Location: bellevue |
Dang, Nickel! That's a nice bit o' 'splorin' you done there. Next time you're planning a wander over new ground, lmk. Looking forward to some mini-epics in the Fall. Legs are toast from Sunday, btw. hahaha
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Strider518 Member
Joined: 04 Sep 2019 Posts: 19 | TRs | Pics Location: Bellingham, WA |
I enjoyed immensely your trip report and pictures. I've been thinking about doing the same loop, except 'clockwise'. From your report it seems that climbing up and over Lago does not involve any technical rock climbing, as long as one is careful to look ahead and not get stuck somewhere. I'd appreciate any private comments you may have, if you like. Thanks.
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gb Member
Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Posts: 6311 | TRs | Pics
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gb
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Thu Sep 05, 2019 8:51 am
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A really great trip report! I've considered that route as well, although I'd likely forego Osceola and Carru. Good information about finding the trails and the state of the route regarding fires and blowdown. Interested in hearing you say that views of the Buckskin Ridge trail were not all that great. That surprised me.
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