Bailey Range North Leg

[Flying_Ned]

Finally completed the entire Bailey Range Traverse by bagging the Boulder Peak to Appleton Pass leg last week. This is a great hike with a unique view of Seven Lakes Basin from the east, across the Sol Duc. The route is relatively low, 4300 to 5600 and involves more brush crashing and game trails than further south, but you pass 4 lakes and 3 wonderful high basins, and catch great scenic views of Olympus.

 

From Boulder Lake an obvious way trail leads to an open shoulder at 4600 where the trail divides. When you decided to go one way, take the other--trust me. The route traverses the east side of the shoulder and then descends to lower 3 horse lake, a muddy willow ringed pocket with a decent camp just up stream from the inlet. Walk past camp and pick up the obvious game trail leading west then ascending south up Billy Everett Peak. The way leads up through heavy brush to a lovely high basin of sandstone and meadows. At the pass you can see aptly named (deep indigo) Blue Lake beneath to the SW. Hear I watched a juvinille bear forage just a few yards for several minutes until I startled him and he ran off. A quick descent to the lake leads to more open country as you work upward through another small basin toward the N face of Mt. Appleton. After a short distance you arrive at Mud lake, a turquoise blue tarn that was calving small icebergs from a 25' high wall of 3 years of accumulated snow and ice. A really lovely camp can be made near the outlet on a bench overlooking the Boulder Creek Valley, Crystal Ridge and the Happy Lake Ridge. From this excellent camp the route ascends the upper basin and a snow field to a high notch between Appleton and a minor peak, from where you descend into the basin at the head of the N Fork Sol Duc. This is a beautiful, open, and easily traveled area, seldom visited and with many fine vistas. But the best is just ahead. Once you climb out of the cirque and hit the grassy ridge to the west, you look down on the Sol Duc, across the valley to Seven Lakes Basin, and South to Olympus. This spot offers a really interesting perspective of the high divide because you can see it all in one shot, Deer Lake to Sol Duc park, and most of the lakes in between. Also a great view up the Blue glacier, Snow Dome, etc.

 

From the ridge crest it's a straightforward traverse toward Appleton Pass, where it get's increasingly difficult in snaggled timber the closer you get. I hit the trail at 4900' about 1/6 mi below the pass. From there, it's 8 mi by trail back to the car at the Boulder Creek/Appleton Trail head. Stopped for a soak at Olympic Hot Springs on the way down, which was a fine way to end this quick 18 mi trip. No peaks this time, just a fun high route.

 

From Boulder Lake,