Eli3 Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 A few of my friends from out east are coming out the first week of july we're planning a six or seven day trip - we'd like to do a cross country traverse in the PNW or BC, but they do not have the requisite skills for any protected routes. Our primary plan is a variation of the baily traverse, but we'd like a backup in the north cascades or BC if the weather looks crappy in the olympics, any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 You might look at the topo maps for the Pasayten wilderness. It can be much dryer, and it is generally very easy cross country travel. The area near Cathedral Peak is nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blake Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 Find War Creek pass... do a traverse from there, over reynolds peak, over Mcalester peak, South Pass, Mcalester Pass, Rainbow Ridge, Bowan Mountain.... and down to Stehekin or out to Hwy20 from Rainbow Lake. This is the area between lake chelan, the Twisp river headwaters, and Hwy 20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layton Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 check out the Ptarmagin Traverse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottP Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 Bailey Range in the Olympics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dberdinka Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 Buck Creek Pass to High Pass to the Napeequa Valley is an off-trail backpack through absolutely outstanding scenery. Lots of options and potential summits to hit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterMo Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 Do you mean non-technical in the sense of no 5th class climbing, or in the sense of no roped travel whatsoever? Â Whether or not you are willing to do non-technical but roped glacier travel changes the range of possibilities a bunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eli3 Posted May 27, 2006 Author Share Posted May 27, 2006 roped glacier travel would be an option, thanks for all of the great ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_Schuldt Posted May 28, 2006 Share Posted May 28, 2006 You might look at the topo maps for the Pasayten wilderness. It can be much dryer, and it is generally very easy cross country travel. The area near Cathedral Peak is nice. Â What he said. No permits and no crowds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterMo Posted May 28, 2006 Share Posted May 28, 2006 Howzabout Buck Creek Pass...High Pass...Napeequa...Honeycomb Glacier...Glacier Gap...White Chuck Glacier...White Pass...thence southerly on PCT and out via Bald Eagle/Curry Gap? Pretty country. Â I've also long longed to go into Hanging Gardens, Blue Lake, Sinister, etc. from the south and never gotten it together, dammit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tshimko Posted May 28, 2006 Share Posted May 28, 2006 Isolation Traverse Start at Cascade River Rd, via Eldorado, Backbone ridge, Isolation Pk, Snowfield, out to Hwy 20 via Pyramid lake trail. Lots of stuff to scramble/climb, and no people once past Eldorado. Â Ditto Ptarmigan, Bailey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tshimko Posted May 28, 2006 Share Posted May 28, 2006 Oh yeah, ditto Hanging Gardens, via canyon lake and Totem pass, Blue lakes....It's the "backdoor" to the Ptarmigan!!. Â Bath Lakes high route... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
still_climbin Posted May 28, 2006 Share Posted May 28, 2006 Try the Alpine Lakes High Route from road end of Miller River off HW 2, Trail to Dorothy Lake, then XC to Gold Lake; Chetwood Lake; Azure Lake; LaBohn Lakes; pick up the trail in the Necklace Valley and hike out to the Foss River Road and back to HW 2. Lots of scenery with some snow and small glaciers, but nothing technical. Also there are lots of options to bail should the weather go bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
still_climbin Posted May 28, 2006 Share Posted May 28, 2006 Another trip if your new to the Cascades is from Leavenworth, up the Icicle River to Eightmile Creek. Take the trail to Colchuck Lake, XC up though Aasgard Pass to the Enchantment Valley, North through Prusik Pass, Toketie Lake, and descend to Snow Creek (pick up trail here) and out to the Icicle. This is somewhat higher and better weather than the North Cascades. Very scenic and only limited steep snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goatboy Posted May 30, 2006 Share Posted May 30, 2006 Isolation Traverse Start at Cascade River Rd, via Eldorado, Backbone ridge, Isolation Pk, Snowfield, out to Hwy 20 via Pyramid lake trail. Lots of stuff to scramble/climb, and no people once past Eldorado.  Ditto Ptarmigan, Bailey  How long would you say this traverse would take an average party to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterMo Posted May 30, 2006 Share Posted May 30, 2006 I/we took 7 or 8 days in my late thirties. You could do it much faster but it's very cool country with absolutely no reason to be in a hurry. Â I'll put up a pic or two tonite or tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plexus Posted May 30, 2006 Share Posted May 30, 2006 Dude, this thread is making me homesick!! Oh to be rich and have a summer off... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted May 30, 2006 Share Posted May 30, 2006 i'm poor and i have the summer off  les claypool once said "funny thing 'bout weekends when you're unemployed - they don't mean so much, 'cept you get to hang out w/ your working friends" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshK Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Trinity Trailhead -> Buck Creek Pass -> Suiattle Pass -> Cloudy Pass -> Lyman Lakes -> Spider Gap -> Spider Meadow -> Phelps Creek Trailhead. Â Jaw-dropping scenery includes meadows, lakes, glacier, high passes and incredible wildflowers. Â -josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plexus Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 i'm poor and i have the summer off les claypool once said "funny thing 'bout weekends when you're unemployed - they don't mean so much, 'cept you get to hang out w/ your working friends"  Three years ago I quit my job and spent three months living in tents, on friends' couches, etc. Got to some really pretty areas and did some really cool stuff.  From that I would suggest either the Pasayten or up around Stehekin. Completely different feeling to them but both well worth taking a few days to spend up in those areas.  Oh and whatever you do, don't forget the camera!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterMo Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 This should get you going...sort of a massively belated TR: (All very lo-rez. I don't have all night) Neve Glacier Eldorado/Backbone Ridge/Isolation Peak Lake below Isolation Peak Wilcox Lake McAllister Glacier View N from Backbone Ridge crossing to Snowfield Peak Marble Creek Slope Marble Creek Slope Early Morning Spire Eldorado Inspiration Glacier  Do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telemarker Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Buck Creek Pass to High Pass to the Napeequa Valley is an off-trail backpack through absolutely outstanding scenery. Lots of options and potential summits to hit. Â Damn! This one is definitely on my to do list. I've been to Little Giant Pass from the north, and been to Liberty Cap from Buck Creek Pass, both times looking down into the Napeequa wishing to make a loop of it, maybe out through Boulder Pass and White River Trail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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