[RichP]

This is my second longish trip this summer in the Pasayten. This time I got together with my neighbors who know that I like hiking and who had never done a long backpack before. I chose this area for the high roaming on ridges and access to several high lakes to give them a broad sampling of the backcountry. After the 5 hour drive from Seattle, we arrived at the Billy Goat Trailhead at the late hour of 4:30 pm. The climb to Billy Goat Pass starts off right away, and with food stuffed packs, we only got in five miles of walking before setting up camp along Drake Creek for the night. On day two we reached the high country beyond Larch Pass

Entering high country in McCall Gulch.

First views north to Sheep Mtn.

Ruins of old sheepherder's camp at 7800'.

Looking down to Corral Lake from near Point 7821.'

Looking southwest before dropping to Corral Lake.

Corral Lake 7182.'

Evening at Corral Lake.

The next day we struck off for some ridge walking to Ashnola Mtn and Sand Ridge which offer miles of high roaming above 7500'

The "Pasayten Peaks" Ptarmigan, Lago, et al.

Ashnola Mtn 7780' and Whistler Basin from Sand Ridge.

Miles of ridgerunning at around 7500.'

Whistler Basin, Sand Ridge, and Sheep Mtn from near Ashnola Mtn.

Memorial for horseman "Happy Chappy" along Sand Ridge.

Neighbors enjoying their first summit together dubbed "Cacao Nibs Peak" 7848'.

We spent two nights at Corral Lake and awoke to low clouds on the third day which gave way to clearing skies as the day progressed. We walked over to Sheep Lake going cross country from Peave Pass

Neighbors in the mist near Pass 7500' above Corral Lake.

Easy cross country from Peave Pass.

Scree and talus slope we descended to Sheep Lake on cross country route from Peave Pass.

It was a short day, so I walked up to the ridge separating Sheep and Ramon lakes for a view of the next day's hike

Ramon Lakes from northeast ridge of Sheep Mtn.

Sheep Lake 7100' and slopes of Sheep Mtn.

We had breakfast the following morning at Sheep Lake,

Breakfast at Sheep Lake.

then we headed up to the ridge, dropped our packs, and made our way to the summit of Sheep Mtn. It started hailing on the summit and we saw a rainbow below us.

Summit follies on Sheep Mountain 8274'.

Rainbow over the basin of Ramon Lakes.

Hiking down the northeast ridge of Sheep Mtn.

After setting up camp on day 5 at Ramon Lake, we decided to take a stroll over to Canada from Park Pass to Border Lake Peak. After crossing back over the US border, a helicopter buzzed us. It was the second time that day that a helicopter had passed along the border. Perhaps it was the US Border Patrol or Canadian authorities since we saw them the next day too. They fly right along the swath cut through the forest and over ridges.

On the international boundry north of Park Pass.

Border Lake (B.C.) from Border Lake Peak. Note logging roads and clear cuts a stone's throw from the border.

View South from Border Lake Peak 7718', 0.4 mi. N of International Boundry.

Upper Ramon Lake and Sheep Mtn.

On day 6 we hiked over Park Pass and around Sheep Mtn to a junction to Quartz Lake where we stashed our packs in the forest and headed down for a look.

Lunch after a cold dip in Quartz Lake 6747'..

Later we arrived at Whistler Basin and set up camp for the night.

Entering Whistler Basin from the north. Whistler Pass is the notch in the center.

"Humps" on floor of Whistler Basin.

Evening light looking north from Whistler Basin.

Camp at north edge of Whistler Basin.

Morning in Whistler Basin looking towards Ashnola Mtn.

Day 7 was our first encounter with other people as we crossed back over Larch Pass. We spent the night in the same spot as the first night along Drake Ck, and hiked an easy 5 miles out in the morning on day 8. My neighbors had a good time and I think we'll be doing some more trips like this together. Thanks Sean and Amie for the wonderful company.

[wildernessed]

Awesome Rich, alot of nice open high country. What a treat for your neighbors, there's no turning back now.

[mntsun]

Great job, looks like a fun rambling trip. As if there was any doubt about them being your neighbors, they broke out the headstand. Nice!

[Flower Sniffer]

Wow, that's cool! One of these days I'm going to have to get into the Pasayten. I am trying to imagine any of my neighbors accompanying me, and it's just not working! Looks like they had fun. Well done!

[RichP]

Anyone hoping to visit the Pasayten before all the forest below 7,000' is dead, should do it soon. The only areas spared from the plague going on over there are the subalpine and Larch zones. I guess those beetles don't like altitude.

[Flower Sniffer]

Wow, they're really that bad?

[Hiker Mama]

Cool!

[franko1946]

Ah, memories. In 1975 I soloed from Billy Goat Corral through Eightmile pass, Hidden Lakes, Tatoosh Buttes, and up the Pasayten river to the Parson Smith tree on the border. Came back through Dollar Watch pass, Three Fools pass, and Billy Goat pass. 6 days, 5 nights without seeing a soul until I spotted some horse packers on a nearby trail as I went through 3 fools pass on the last day. It's still one of my favorite memories. Thanks for posting the great pics.