Remote North Cascades

[Darren]

I haven't been to Azure lake but got a good look from the summit of one of the McMillian Spires last summer. If I remember correctly, it was surrounded on all sides but one by very steep terrain. You could access the lake via the Stetattle Creek valley but that would entail many, many miles of off trail travel. If your goal is to simply photograph the lake, you could use the Goodell creek approach for the Southern Pickets and get close enough for some sweet photos. That approach ranges from 6 to 10 hours depending on size of pack, conditioning blah blah

[snowleopard_x]

I'm looking to visit some of the remote North Cascades with a bunch of camera gear this late summer (think off trail back pack, no real climbing) and was wondering if anyone had been to these areas, and how hard they were to get to:

Pride Basin - Henry M. Jackson Wilderness

White Rock Lakes - Glacier Peak Wilderness (actually on the tail end of Ptarmigan Traverse, I'd be approaching from Downey Creek/Bachelor Meadows)

Klawati Lake - NCNP

Tiny unamed lake NW of Mt. Triumph - NCNP

Silver Lake - NCNP

Luna Lake - NCNP

Azure Lake - NCNP

I won't be able to get to them all, but will have one month to do my best. I'm also open to any other reasonable spot, as long as it's scenic and rarely visited, and not too dangerous to get to solo.

I have Beckey's three CAG's, but he's vague about some of the approaches.

Thanks to any and all who can help.

snowleopard

[Alasdair]

I highly recomend easy ridge. On the way to mt challenger. I was in that area last summer andit is an amazing place to take pics. This page will give you an idea of the area. Easy ridge pics are mostly at the begining. I will label them a little later today. http://www.nwclimber.com/climbing/trips/challenger2001/challenger2001.htm

[Nelly]

Access Creek from Big Beaver is an easy way to get close to Luna Cirque, Fury, etc. Also, don't over look Perry Creek access to S. Side of Spikard and ridge leading to over towards Redoubt.

[Dru]

Then you can brag how you went up (or down) the Big Beaver.

Sounds like a Primus song

[dkemp]

Re Azure Lake, a fun journey is to hike up Sourdough trail from Diablo, then venture out on the ridge above Stetattle Creek toward Elephant Butte. Amazing views - just splendid.

We came down Torrent Creek and out Stetattle Creek to make a loop. It was, er, strenuous.

We weren't trying for Azure Lake but it seems remotely possible from there. Hmmm... dont miss Beckeys description of Stetattle Creek before attempting it.

[Juneriver]

White Rock Lakes - The approach was as bad as it sounds in Nelson's guide as the approach to Dome. Only the biting flies were an exceptional surprise.If I remember right, you'll downclimb the Dana Glacier, nothing serious but watch for hidden crevasses even in mid-late summer.Keep descending below the glacier to keep well below cliff bands. Goat trails are plentiful.

As long as you are out there with the camera gear, check out the view of Glacier Peak from Itswoot Ridge. I caught the best sunset I've experienced in the mountains right there, turning the whole mountain every color imaginable for about an hour.