[TR] Isolation Traverse- 7/25/2004

[tshimko]

Climb: Isolation Traverse-

 

Date of Climb: 7/25/2004

 

Trip Report:

Here's one I've wanted to do for years, the Isolation traverse, from Cascade River Rd. to Hwy 20 via Eldorado north to Pyramid Lk. I'm not even sure where or when I first heard or thought of this.

 

Drove over Sat evening and started on Sunday, as Sat was WTF hot. Still too hot Sun, but got up to the ridgeline between Torment and Eldorado basins. Left there next morning, crossed Eldorado and Inspiration glaciers (climbed the easy rte on Eldo along the way), through the notch on Tepeh Towers and descended slightly into Marble creek basin on the glacier just south of Dorado needle. The only place to camp that evening was on some flat rocky areas at the base of glacier. Cold air kept falling from above producing a cold "glacier breath" wind all night. Was calm and warm just out of this area, but no place to camp.

 

Next day traversed just below Backbone Ridge. Did you know that this is the ridge you see as you are crossing the bridge over the Skagit, on the road from Darrington to Rockport, just before Rockport?

 

Turned the ridge just south of the N end of Backbone Ridge, headed north, and crossed the ridge east of Pt 6885, rhen descended to a glacier in the upper reaches of McAllister creek, only to climb back out to get to the ridge above the remnant glaciers above Wilcox lakes.

 

Next day, spotted a possible route over Isolation Pk, heading up game trails before traversing right to an obvious steep, broad heather gully, which brought us to a shoulder, curiously marked with a plastic bag caught in a small snag, near the top of Isolation Pk, . Dropping packs here, did a long scramble along a ridge to the summit of Isolation Pk. Not often climbed. After getting back to the packs, found our way around the east side, to an apparent cliff. A short search found a way down this, and we descended to the kidney shaped lake just to the north at about 5760. Camped just above this lake.

 

Next day north to ridgeline, and got to the saddle between Snowfield and The Horseman. Up Snowfield, then traversed Neve glacier to camp at the saddle between the Neve and Colonial glaciers, just west of point 7505. Down to the lake at the base of the glacier, thence to the ridgeline just below the east side of Pyramid. Camped here with incredible views all around, but mostly to the south from Pyramid all the way around to Colonial.

 

Next day followed the climbers path to Pyramid lake and the short trail to Hwy 20 and the car.

 

This is an incredibly beautiful, distinctly alpine traverse in a seldom visited part of the N Cascades. Now that I know the way, will definitely get back for some more climbing. Could see alternate routes that would offer more interesting travel.

[Skeezix]

Take a fishing rod. We did it N to S.

[Off_White]

Thanks for the report, I've long had that one in the back of my mind, sounds like a splendid opportunity for some pristine N Cascades alpine rambles.