[ethorson]

[silence]

thx for the maps link eric .. wow .. you're an animal .. i don't know how you do it ... i mean the legs and energy for these xc explorations ...

[ethorson]

I was fiddling around with Google Earth and captured this view of the Godkin/Buckinghorse ridge. I seems to be just as I remembered, with the steep area north of point 5451 evident.

GE-Godkin-Buckinghorse

[boomheist]

These are great photos and great discussion. I know that the saddle between Muncaster Basin and the bowls below June 10 and Taylor is an easy walk, it just gets gnarly climbing onto Taylor. When we managed to be real stupid and have to work around the west side of the peaks between June 10 and Pyrites Creek, we had hours and hours to stare across the Godkin valley and observe that Buckinghorse Godkin ridge. It has cliffs and looks pretty severe. I wouldn't want to try that route. You guys have convinced me that the proper route to Pyrites is the cold just north of June 10 and then a long long sidehill to the northeast around the head of the Pyrites basin. I'm still hoping to hear from someone who can confirm they have done the Taylor traverse and the route they took. Otherwise next year I'll have to go in from the Low Divide side, or the Pyrites side the correct way, and spend a week back in there finding the route. I'm hoping someone will save me the trouble....

[JustJoe]

Your TR made my day boomheist. Muncaster basin is definitely one of my personal happy places in this world. And way to persevere in the face of challenging conditions and finicky weather. I've been up in that area solo a few times and I can attest to the ruggedness and beauty of it all. I attempted ascending via Pyrites creek twice, being turned back each time upon reaching the headwaters and being unable to locate a route through those steep thickets to access the pass. And descending that route can be trickier than ascending. I finally discovered the Fire creek route, but my first trip up put me on that very same knife edge ridge it sounds like you were on, which is sketchy to say the least. I made it across and into the upper basin but I will not go that route again. Dropping down into Fire creek drainage at about 3500' is definitely the way to go, even though it's a steep drop initially off the ridge, once into the upper drainage the game trails make it easy going. I'm planning on getting back up there sometime in mid/late Sep and would be open to considering a possible group assault on the Muncaster/Low Divide route. Given the knowledge of the route of those of us responding to this TR, I think we would have a good shot of completing it. Say 5-7 days, assuming decent weather of course. Shoot me a PM if anyone is interested and we can discuss particulars.

[reststep]

boomheist, you could try sending a PM to Larry. Chances are he has been through there.

[Dansjolseth]

We did that trip plus climb Mount Lawson in about 1983. It is definitely beautiful country -- except the brush in the lower 1000 feet of Pyrites Creek. We went down the east side and wondered if the west side was better. But I will never return to find out.

[Sabahsboy]

no 2 cents more from me...I just wished I could have been there! For decades I wondered about that "loop". Exciting TR and, well, bruises and scratches....all worth it? Looks like it! Thanks for the great photo show!

[puzzlr]

It's inspiring how you kept going with day after day of tough bushwhacking. Can't say I wish I was there, but I did enjoy following along on my map.

[goats gone wild]

Very interesting TR, boom. Sounds like you encountered some pretty rough travel but had a great time. Do you happen to know the time period when the Rustler Creek trail was used/abandoned? Also, where exactly did the old Pyrites trail connect to? Was it just meant as a passage from the Quinault to the Elwha drainages or did it actually connect with Muncaster Basin at one time? Several years ago we went up to Martins Park and could see a very distinct trail headed over the saddle towards Muncaster. Was cloudy/foggy/windy and time constraints prevented further exploration--but it was indeed a distinct trail.

[Larry]

Got your PM boomeheist. I have attached my memory of the route. I think I have it nailed pretty close, as I still have my drawings and notes after all this time. The gully route is insane, and foolish that I even did it. The "over the summit" route goes, but I wouldn't do it alone again. Some of the stuff looks awful, only to actually go pretty well once you are committed. I think the "over the summits" route is the most expedient, and probably better than even the full drop to and gain in Rustler basin. The bivy on the minor summit was phenomenal, and I remember the Northern Lights and some flashlights gleaming down in Chicago Camp about 2 air miles and 4000+ feet below. Had the Trapper Nelson pack and some decent boots, and that was enough for me. I marked up the attached image; remember that some of this is from memory a long time ago. Also remember I was a teenager and had a rather typical weird teenager's mindset. I do know a couple things though - Rewarding and Magnificent. Hope this helps. Larry

1 label

[Dayhike Mike]

Thanks for the beta, Larry! If I ever get around to making this traverse, I'll definitely post pics and details of the trip.

[Ancient Ambler]

Great route, Larry. Thanks for the very detailed route map and notes on the dicey sections. It is just great to see you post again on nwhikers. As far as I know, it's been a few years since you have. Before I ever started posting here, I got a lot of enjoyment out of your excellent writing on nwhikers. Your lists of Olympic traverses back in 2003 are awe-inspiring. If you've been keeping notes and sketches of some of those traverses, is there any chance of your posting some route maps of those traverses similar to what you just did here with the Taylor traverse? By comparison, the Oly Climber's Guide description of the Taylor route is almost worthless.

[Larry]

[Ancient Ambler]

Larry, It's great to hear you'll be heading out into the mountains more and bringing back some reports and photos. That is one huge camera and tripod you're lugging in that photo. Take any photos on your trip into Crystal Lakes last year? Care to share?