[Eric Gilbertson]

Saturday – Bike, paddle, hike to Lake Mountain, Monument Peak, camp at Shellrock Pass (~30 miles, 10kft gain) Sunday – climb Blackcap, Osceola, Carru, Lago, Ptarmigan, Lost, camp at Shellrock Pass (~33 miles, 15kft gain) Monday – hike, paddle, bike out (18 miles, 2kft gain) I saw Matt Lemke's report about hiking into this area a few weeks ago, and in particular the tricky crossing of Eureka Creek. I immediately thought - packraft! I'd been struggling for a while to contrive a way to involve my packraft with climbing Bulger mountains, and a tricky creek crossing would be the perfect way. The packraft doesn't care how deep the water is, just as long as it's deep enough not to scrape on the rocks. I left the Monument Creek trailhead solo Saturday morning at 5:30am on my mountain bike. The first 1.5 miles are excellent for biking, and the next mile is very overgrown. I basically just pushed my bike the last mile to the wilderness boundary and ditched it in the woods. The Eureka creek crossing was probably at least thigh deep on me, but no problem for my boat. I inflated my boat, paddled across, then packed it up and hung it in a tree for the return. I went on to climb Lake and Monument peaks that day, then camped near Shellrock Pass. The next day I climbed six Bulgers - Blackcap, Osceola, Carru, Lago, Ptarmigan, and Lost, returning to my camp at Shellrock Pass. To get from Ptarmigan to Lost it's possible to avoid going back over Lago by dropping down to Dot Lake and traversing at treeline through pleasant terrain to Butte Pass. Monday morning I hiked back out, and it snowed on me continuously all morning until I dropped below 4,000ft. Strange weather for July! I inflated my boat and put in at the Eureka-Lost confluence and paddled a little ways down the Lost river, before taking out, hiking back to my bike, and biking back to the car. Full trip report and more pictures at http://www.countryhighpoints.com/pasayten-peakbagging/

Map of my route

All packed up at the trailhead

The Eureka Creek crossing

The bushwhack through the burn zone to get to Shellrock Pass

Dot Lake. Drop down here to avoid going back over Lago

Sunset on Lost Peak, looking back towards Pistol Pass

Putting in back at Eureka Creek

[Jake Robinson]

All that in 3 days with overnight gear, solo, in marginal weather. That is absolutely insane! My hat is off to you. Do you plan on finishing this year?

[gray matter]

Welcome to the site, Eric! You are a sick man. That’s all. Edit: emoji for context!

[rstoddard24]

Wow- nice! I like the multi sport style - bike/paddle/hike/climb. Packraft opens the door for many options! Thx for the beta on ptarmigan-lost linkup

[raising3hikers]

amazing effort, those are some big days! cool to see what can be done when someone is determined

[RichP]

I checked out your blog. You've been to some interesting places.

[Backpacker Joe]

Very nice work. Are you sure your name ISNT Hank Snow? I was totin' my pack Along the dusty Winnemucca road When along came a semi With a high and canvas covered load "If you're going to Winnemucca, Mack With me you can ride." So I climbed into the cab And then I settled down inside He asked me if I'd seen a road With so much dust and sand And I said, "Listen, Bud I've traveled Every road in this here land." I've been everywhere, man I've been everywhere, man 'Cross the deserts bare, man I've breathed the mountain air, man Of travel, I've had my share, man I've been everywhere. Been to Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota, Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota, Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma, Tampa, Panama, Mattawa, La Paloma, Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo, Tocopilla, Barranquilla, and Padilla, I'm a killer. I've been everywhere, man I've been everywhere, man 'Cross the deserts bare, man I've breathed the mountain air, man Of travel, I've had my share, man I've been everywhere. Boston, Charleston, Dayton, Louisiana, Washington, Houston, Kingston, Texarkana, Monterey, Ferriday, Santa Fe, Tallapoosa Glen Rock, Black Rock, Little Rock, Oskaloosa, Tennessee, Hennessey, Chicopee, Spirit Lake, Grand Lake, Devil's Lake, Crater Lake, for Pete's sake; I've been everywhere, man I've been everywhere, man 'Cross the deserts bare, man I've breathed the mountain air, man Of travel, I've had my share, man I've been everywhere. Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika, Shefferville, Jacksonville, Waterville, Costa Rica, Pittsfield, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport, Hackensack, Cadillac, Fond do Lac, Davenport, Idaho, Jellicoe, Argentina, Diamontina, Pasadena, Catalina, see what I mean, sir; I've been everywhere, man I've been everywhere, man 'Cross the deserts bare, man I've breathed the mountain air, man Of travel, I've had my share, man I've been everywhere. Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravellburg, Colorado, Ellensburg, Rexburg, Vicksburg, Eldorado, Larrimore, Atmore, Haverstraw, Chattanika, Chaska, Nebraska, Alaska, Opelika, Baraboo, Waterloo, Kalamazoo, Kansas City, Sioux City, Cedar City, Dodge City, what a pity; I've been everywhere, man I've been everywhere, man 'Cross the deserts bare, man I've breathed the mountain air, man Of travel, I've had my share, man "I know some place you haven't been." I've been everywhere."

[Nancyann]

Welcome to the site, Eric. Congratulations on a superhuman effort! I noticed we had similar pictures of snow on tents, but then the similarity abruptly ends!

[Matt Lemke]

I believe there are only a few people in the world capable of this feat! Have you ever been running with Kilian Jornet? Amazing accomplishment

[Distel32]

[Gregor]

Holy cow!! That's impressive.

[Gregor]

oh, But I see you didnt do Dot mountain while you were there.... what a slacker...

[Brushbuffalo]

Simply amazing! It will be exciting to see what innovative trips you do next.

[Jake Robinson]

Having just been out there and done 6 of these 8, following much of your route, this is even more amazing to me. The mileage and gain numbers for day 2 are huge but they don't reflect the sheer amount of rough, chossy, off-trail terrain that you covered that day. Incredible. P.S. that Ptarmigan-Lost linkup works very well, thanks for the idea. Mostly pleasant travel through open Larch and fresh burn. Only took us 1.5 hours or so from Dot Lakes to Butte Pass.

[Mesahchie Mark]

This TR kinda blows my mind, but after seeing you in action on Azurite this weekend, it makes more sense Well done!