Location : Twisp, wa.
Access : Twisp River Rd. > Buttermilk Creek Rd. > FR 550
* You must now park near the top of the road and walk 4.5 miles to the original TH
Map : GTM - Buttermilk Butte
Distance / Elevation r/t : 20 miles, 5900'
Scaffold 7497 - Duffy 7625 and Duffy Lakes
My first backpack since early June had us starting at the gated road that use to lead to the Buttermilk Ridge TH while the road still does and looks to become a default trail you park behind the gate now due to the bridge being unsafe and that means 4.5 miles of road walking unless you take it up the gut and cut some mileage off. Eleven years ago this month we drove to the original TH and did a monster loop snagging Oval dropping down the North ridge drawn by the rising fish visible from the summit into Duffy but we had no poles so the area has been on our mind and now it looked like a good time to do the trip easing my calf back into reality.
There was a smokey haze in the air, it was hot, there were bugs, and some blowdown but it was good to stress test my body and we did just that. The upper sections of Scaffold Ridge were easy walking with large meadows, good views off the peaks, and the fishing was good at Duffy Lake. We had some light rain showers in the afternoon but nothing more and a good campsite, coming out the second day it was hot there are no water sources between the TH and Lake.
Scaffold (far left) and Spirit Mountain (center)
Good Stuff surrounds us from our lunch spot on Scaffold.
that means 4.5 miles of road walking unless you take it up the gut and cut some mileage off.
Hmmmmm...Seems like you two ridge runners could have found an even more direct route in via the West Buttermilk valley. But it looks like it was a successful trip.
Based on the evidence presented (20 miles, 5900' gain), I hereby declare you HEALED!
Looks like a lot of potential with nice flat spots on Scaffold Ridge to set up camp for one of your legendary early season ridge outings.
"These are the places you will find me hiding'...These are the places I will always go."
(Down in the Valley by The Head and The Heart)
"Sometimes you're happy. Sometimes you cry.
Half of me is ocean. Half of me is sky."
(Thanks, Tom Petty)
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"These are the places you will find me hiding'...These are the places I will always go."
(Down in the Valley by The Head and The Heart)
"Sometimes you're happy. Sometimes you cry.
Half of me is ocean. Half of me is sky."
(Thanks, Tom Petty)
Based on the evidence presented (20 miles, 5900' gain), I hereby declare you HEALED!
Looks like a lot of potential with nice flat spots on Scaffold Ridge to set up camp for one of your legendary early season ridge outings.
Just in time for the smoke off I lost some valuable time in June.🤕
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Looks like a lot of potential with nice flat spots on Scaffold Ridge to set up camp for one of your legendary early season ridge outings. 