[Ancient Ambler]

Hoping for snow-free access to the high country, took off for the Upper Maynard Burn trail under sunny skies. One other car was at the TH when we reached it and temperatures were already balmy. Hiking in T shirt and shorts was a very welcome change from the awful conditions of so many outings so far this year, especially the heavy wind, rain, and fog I experienced summiting Mt. Baker a couple weeks ago. There are a couple ways up to Baldy from the road end, and we chose the steeper Upper Maynard Burn way trail instead of the slightly more moderate Tyler Peak way trail. From the road end, Upper Maynard Burn way trail is accessed by following the washed out logging road a few hundred yards past Mueller Creek, then hanging a right where the trail parallels the road for a few hundred feet before taking off uphill. Beware of very slippery rocks crossing Mueller Creek. Shortly past the creek crossing, the old road is very overgrown with alder saplings in need of clearing. If you're heading this way and feeling charitable, bring some loppers. The trail gains about 300 feet between switchbacks in the logging road, at which point the trail steepens in earnest. From here to where the trail peters out in meadows below the Tyler-Baldy ridge, the trail is in good shape, with the exception of clumps of one-foot diameter blowdowns at about 5100 and 5300 feet that require detouring off the trail for a ways. A nice bunch of blooming rhodies at around 4600 feet. Only one patch of snow about 10 feet wide across the trail in the trees before the trail breaks out into the open terrain of Mueller meadow. There was water running in the west fork of Meueller creek where the trail crosses it and no snow to cross all the way up to Tyler-Baldy ridge. Tyler Peak access looks snow-free as well.

Upper Maynard Burn trail at about 5800 ft

Trail toward Tyler-Baldy ridge

Tyler Peak

Wild flowers were just starting to appear in Mueller meadow. My guess is there will be a lot more in a week or so. Great views from the meadows looking south.

Constance

upper Mueller meadows

Constance and Inner Constance from Tyler-Baldy ridge

The ridge up to the false summit (~ 6520 ft) still has some snow on it and a nice cornice, but the snow can be easily avoided both to the false summit and all the way over to the true summit.

false summit

Cornice near false summit

Baldy from Tyler-Baldy ridge

One of our group was not feeling so great after the Upper Maynard Burn ascent, so I stayed at the false summit with her while the others walked over to the true summit, which I've visited plenty of times before. It was certainly pleasant to lie in the sun in T shirt and shorts at 6520 feet elevation and feel warmth even in the shade when clouds passed overhead. There's still plenty of snow on many of the peaks visible from Mount Baldy, including the north side of Constance Pass, the slopes west of Marmot Pass, and upper Royal Basin, although it does look like the route up Gray Wolf Mountain is mostly snow-free, except just before the peak.

Ridge walk toward summit

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Baldy from false summit

Buckhorn

North face of Inner Constance

Mount Deception

Sequim and the Straits

4 labels

Constance, Warrior, Alphabet Ridge

Blue Mountain

Mount Mystery

Mt. Deception and The Needles

Inner Constance

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Marmot Pass area

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Constance Pass area

Gray Wolf Mountain

Gray Wolf Mountain summit approach

All in all, it was a great day to be in the Olympics. Saw a couple of other parties during the day, but the brutal steepness of the Upper Maynard Burn trail helps keep the crowds away.

[kite]

thank you for the timely report had been thinking about Baldy... looks like you had a nice day

[half fast]

Great TR and wonderful photos... Looks like a very fun day in the mountains... and sounds like a good work out as well !! Thanks for sharing

[Redwic]

I have tomorrow off from work, so I am considering attempting Gray Wolf Ridge (7218') from Baldy. The photos on this trip report seem to indicate only one sketchy section of snow on the ridgetop en route to the Gray Wolf summit. I wonder if I can safely side-traverse that section, or hike down/up loose scree around it. I was hoping not to need bringing my ice axe, especially for such a small section, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Any advice, fellow NWHers?

[Trailhead]

[Redwic]

I was planning to bring it, just in case of bad snow conditions on the ridgetop. Besides, the extra weight to carry will make for a better workout!

[Redwic]

UPDATE: I did Baldy, Gray Wolf, Peak B, and Tyler Peak today. Each peak is now very doable, with no traverse issues (other than the standard loose scree and dirt in places). There is one snow-covered saddle near the summit block of Gray Wolf. I used my ice axe for that section, but it really was not necessary... the snow was a gentle angle and had a lot of runoff (in case of a fall). There are other small snow patches and ridges with cornices, but those can be avoided. Gray Wolf was my 23rd WA CoHP. Great weather & views!!

[RodF]

[reststep]

Thanks Rod for the trail work and thank you AA for the trip report and pictures.