[Kenji]

Joined another Mtr backpacking trip, this time to a NC ridge. We started from Sourdough TH in Diablo to the ridge then down and up to the Ross Dam TH. Rob got a permit at the Sourdough Camp and an xc camp, but after seeing an old sign in avy debris we were unimpressed by the camp. We did find two sites hidden in the trees nearby, but decided our excuse would be that they were too small for our four tents. We then continued on to the ridge to find an xc site. It ended up over 5k' uphill to our 1st night camp, pretty good for mostly no-longer-so-young retirees.

21.5 mi, range: 895' to 6493' gross: +8616' -7385'

camp w/ alpine views

many tarns for clear water

alpine ranger checking on us

After dinner sunset watch:

Full Moon over Ruby!

Next day we just sauntered on Stetattle Ridge as far as we felt like. I hinted checking out Elephant Butte, got close enough to get some idea for its effort level.

tarn w/ clouds

Fire in East:

Turning around:

Azure lake, sorry about no color

Elephant Butte! maybe next time?

hhhmm...

much better!

Head of Sourdough Creek in winter and summer:

Nov 2014

Last day, just gentle downhill on Sourdough Ridge.

The last 500' up from Ross Dam to the car was a little tough. Overall, it's a nice loop hike with changing scenery and with few people.

[RichP]

Lovely. This one has been on my wish list for a long time.

[zephyr]

[Eric Hansen]

Many moons I've dreamed of this trip, walking Stetattle Ridge, maybe, just maybe having enough juice left to do Elephant Butte. 5k off the deck? You all are some styling retirees!

[thxII38]

Last year I did a very similar trip along Stetattle Ridge. My ultimate goal was Elephant Butte, but I brought my summer sleeping bag instead of my warmer bag because the forecast was very wrong (got down to below freezing, and forecast was for mid-40s!). So, I went as far along the ridge as peak 6728. Getting to EB was a failure for me, but just being up there was a major win. What a fabulous place! I am planning to head back up there very soon (with my warm sleeping bag!) to get to EB. Your trip report has been very helpful. Seeing your photos has been great. It confirms what I have come to expect from my Caltopo Pro satellite imagery. THANKS!!! Great Beta!

[Bluebird]

Lovely! I have backpacked up there twice, most recently to Elephant Butte. I loved camping near the Stetattle summit, just amazing terrain and so fun to explore.

[Jellyphysh]

Beautiful photos! I am thinking of hiking around there in a month or so. I really want to see Azure lake! Did it look like there was anyway to get down there from sourdough? Casually hiking? Lol I don't have experience mountaineering just yet and all the other ways I'm seeing, like coming in from Stetattle, say that it's miserable bushwhacking for miles

[Eric Hansen]

"it's miserable bushwhacking for miles". My buddies and I taught ourselves mountaineering back in the 90's at Glacier NP in MT. Joke then was that "there is death by alder and there is death by rockfall. Death by rockfall is preferable."

[Jellyphysh]

Darn! Hahaha either Ill have to organize a group effort for the bushwacking route, or find someone who is experienced with ropes to get me down there! My partner and I are very much newbies to backpacking, but we have settled on taking our third backpacking trip up to Lily Basin next month. Wish us luck!

[Silas]

Thanks for the report. Loved that area and definitely worth the elevation. Azure lake will always have a special place in my heart; looked down on it from Glee right before the smoke rolled in and was reminded of fond memories my wife and I shared there many moons ago. Jellyphysh, I believe there are three ways to get to Azure: Stetattle Creek, descend off EB, and descend a couloir from Terror Basin/arm off the ridge connecting Glee to Little Mac. Descending off EB was sketchy without a rope (at least the way we went). It involved down climbing some class 4 slabs. Descending from Terror basin looks doable, maybe. But I have never tried it. Hiking through Stetattle is hard. But I think if you can go through Stetattle, every approach in the North Cascades will be easy in comparison so maybe that is a reason to try it.

[Jellyphysh]

Thanks for the tips Silas! I will have to look into the Terror Basin route and see if I can figure something out!