[some names]

We’d been curious about Williams Lake and Williams Buttes after reading Cartman’s report from 2016. We saw a promising weather window and went. We started up the trail around noon with a plan to camp for 2 nights. We found a nice campsite near the lake.

A tired appearing Admiral along the trail

Nearing the lake basin on the hike in

The next morning we spent a little time just looking at the very quiet and still lake . . . really pleasant . . . then began wandering up to the Williams Buttes. We mostly followed the easiest terrain up, enjoying the views and travel, and eventually found a good place to scramble up to War Creek Ridge just a little SE of Williams Butte (7520+).

Williams Lake in the morning

The lake was very still . . .

and very quiet

No bugs and no rippling fish . . .

Smoke overhead hazed the sun at times . . .

Off to Williams Buttes . . .

Nice terrain for wandering . . .

During the night some smoke had come in, but the breathing air remained mostly okay. The summit view was somewhat obscured by the haze, but did improve at times during the day. On a day without smoke and haze, it would certainly be a fine viewpoint.

Williams Butte. Register can tucked in rocks

On Williams Butte, North Butte in distance

Rafts of smoke drifting past Camels Hump (CL) and Reynolds Peak (CR)

Williams Butte summit rocks

Register

Register is a good read . . . a little weird at times . . .

Hazy, but beautiful summit view, North Butte at left

North Williams Butte and connecting ridge from Williams Butte

We took our time walking the ridge over to Williams North. It was fun to wander through larch groves. There were also interesting rocks en route. According to our Google Earth geology overlay, we think a lot of dark stuff was Twisp Valley Schist, and Williams North appeared to be grey tonalite. Squished right between the two was a zone of very colorful and variable rocks. Some looked like marble.

Heading over to North Williams

On the connecting ridge

A very fine ridge and saddle walk ahead . . .

Enjoying the ridge walk

Saddle between the buttes

Looking back along ridge - Williams Butte (L), Camels Hump and Reynolds Pk (R)

Many colorful rocks along the way . . .

North Williams Butte beyond the colorful rocks

More colorful rocks . . .

Approaching North Williams, Williams Butte behind

North Williams Butte had a nice view, too.

On North Williams

Looking down to Reynolds Creek

View from North Williams toward the Twisp valley

As far as the fire got . . .

North Williams pano view . . .

Labeled . . .

We walked back to the saddle between Williams and Williams North and then headed down toward the lake. We found nice slopes and ramps that took us somewhat directly to the lake.

Basin wandering . . .

The following day we left camp and headed out, back down the trail. The fireweed was beautiful and plentiful. Larches are generally the headliners for trips at this time of year, but we think maybe fireweed deserves some attention . . .

Autumn color on the hike out . . .

Fireweed begins stealing the show . . .

Fireweed . . .

a lot of fireweed

beautiful grass, too . . .

Autumn has been great . . . now we are beginning to eye our snowshoes again . . . Apologies for the picture overload . . . but it has been awhile since we have posted, and it is the season for eye candy . . .

[neek]

fantastic!

[Nancyann]

Nice to see a trip report from you, some names! Beautiful pictures despite the smoke and I agree, the fireweed deserves appreciation too!

[GaliWalker]

The photos...

[Mike Collins]