[Brian R]

You can see on Silence's link that Gary & Jan dropped down Deception Creek a considerable distance. This is a much better choice than what we did--cutting across the 5000' contour behind Mount Mystery. If I recall, it took us the better part of three hours to travel less than a mile.

[silence]

[Eaglecadd]

Silence, Did you go up into Fricaba Basin through Milk Creek? And then over to Deception Basin?

[silence]

No, ... we went out to the end of the maintained Heather Creek trail. We stopped for a couple of hours at the shelter then climbed up the avy slope that's right there in your face. It's ez at first but gets a little dicey at the top, then traversed thru talus along a steep slope (though there's a faint path to follow). At that time the bridges were out over both the Dungeness River and Heather Creek, plus there was a giant blowdown beyond the creek that we had to climb thru, so that slowed us down, but still even with those issues and the stop at the shelter to wait for the mid-day heat to subside, we ezily made it to camp in Fricaba Basin the first night. Also, at that time we only used a compass, altimeter, map, and directions from Ancient Ambler to make our way there for the night and beyond to the pass (even at that time of year we still had some ez snow to climb after leaving camp). Once at the pass, the basin lays before you in all its glory, and it's an ez hike down to wherever you want to go.

[Eaglecadd]

Thanks, Silence. That sounds great, but I have been wanting to get back up into Milk Creek again and show Mel how awesome all the waterfalls are going up to the basin. It looks like it would be really tough to get over to Deception Basin, but it would be very cool if I could do both the falls and Deception in one route without the up and down to go on up Heather Creek side. Just thinkin' out loud right now. I won't be able to do this until late August. Doing Bailey Range again in early August, then Lake of the Angels and over to Hagen Lakes mid month and this trip later in August.I also have to paint my house out at Spencer lake near Shelton somewhere in the middle. Jam packed month. Hey, don't know if you've ever been to the Big Island of Hawaii, but I am loving it and getting to do some great trips here. Check out a few TR's I did. https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8029298 https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8029290 https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8029291

[silence]

I swear I read a report of a party that used Milk Creek ... but after searching I can't find it now. Perhaps they were headed to Fricaba or Royal Basin? In any case, it was quite wild and beautiful up there. You do sound really busy. Are you a permanent resident on the Big Island now? Our daughter used to the be exec chef at the Bamboo restaurant in Hawi ... ever been there? I did find this ... maybe it will give you some idea about Milk Creek? https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7986772&highlight=fricaba

[reststep]

Here is a trip report from Gary&Jan where they went up Milk Creek to Royal Basin. https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7978809 Here is a trip report from Abert where it sounds like he went down Milk Creek. https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8017849

[Eaglecadd]

Sorry for the delay responding, I have been busy preparing for cataract surgery. Yeah, I live in Kona now but spend every August in Washington to go backpacking. Yes, I have been at the grille in Hawi. There is another great hike/backpack trip on thru Hawi to Polulu Valley. In that valley there are also some great waterfalls and a cool slot canyon.