Day 1- Phelps Cr TH to Phelps Ridge
Day 2- Phelps Ridge High Route to Red Mth Trail
Day 3- Red Mtn Trail to Massie Lake
Day 4- Massie Lake High Route
Day 5- Massie Lake High Route to High Pass/
Buck Creek Pass
Day 6- Buck Creek Pass to Trinity
Tricky Stretch of the Massie Lake High Route
Troop 24 "The High Adventure Troop" Backpacking Trip
-Cascade Bill Mooseker
Date(s): August 2001. Album by cascade_bill. Photos by WHM and Andrew. 1 - 111 of 111 Total. 1334 Visits.
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enlarge 34.03MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 2 2001 ka 001a fake oakleys.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. What is a Fake Oakley?
Getting ready to head out from the Phelps Creek Trailhead. We've shuttled the cars so that when we come out at Trinity, we'll have to go and retreive the car at Phelps Cr TH but not have to send someone on foot as I have had to do on a couple of occasions.
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The Phelps Ridge route begins with a ford of Phelps Creek. Andrew and Shelby in foreground.
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Danny and Eric at the Phelps Creek Ford. A little cool relief before the hot steep climb up the old abandoned sheepdrive over Phelps Ridge.
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Its a long climb to the meadows and the old tread helps keep one on the right track. This camp is on the eastern side of Phelps Ridge. A few thunderclouds prompted Shelby to prepare a shelter for the night.
enlarge 250.55MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 6 2001 ka 002b camp 1.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
The Phelps Ridge Trail is an abandoned sheep drive that takes off from the Phelps Cr (Spider Meadow) trail near Leroy Creek. It is insanely steep but fairly easy to find (at least it was in 2001). We camped in this nice meadow with great views across the valley of Mt Maude and Seven fingered Jack.
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Entiat Ridge as seen from our camp on Phelps Ridge. My brand new "Lightyear" 1 man tent is in the foreground.
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The old Clip 3 into which we crammed 5 young scouts on the mini-miler in 1994.
enlarge 112KB, 524x800 9 2001-364-016 Shelby and Eric preparing dinner
enlarge 168KB, 526x800 10 2001-365-001 Getting ready to leave in the morning- Roger, Danny, & Eric.
enlarge 56.58MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 11 2001 ka 003a day 2 breaking camp.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View. Breaking Camp
enlarge 117KB, 535x800 12 2001-364-017 Andrew with Carne Mountain in background.
enlarge 122KB, 800x569 13 2001-364-018 Leaving camp - Danny and Andrew.
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Filling water bottles at stream in upper Phelps ridge meadows- Shelby, Chip, Eric, & Bill (on bank) Roger & Danny in foreground.
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Shelby takes a break - The old tread can be seen just below the rockface above. It traverses the ridge but is lost in the meadows above.
enlarge 35.65MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 16 2001 ka 004a day 2 meadows phelps cr.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
Heading into the upper basin before climbing up to the ridge crest. Andrew and I had day hiked this portion in 1994 up to the ridge crest.
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Guys heading up to the old tread which follows the green belt up between the darker pines above the rocks.
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Looking back down from the old tread - Bill is beginning the climb below.
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Taking a break at the ridgetop - Shelby, Eric, Roger the red, Danny, Chip, and Andrew (behind Chip)
enlarge 56.39MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 20 2001 ka 005a day 2 pinochle break.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
Taking a long break at the crest of Phelps Ridge. The usual card game is in progress.
enlarge 183KB, 529x800 21 2001-365-005 Bill, Chip, and Shelby
Start of the "Bastard Miles" - descending the western slopes of Phelps Ridge. Up till this point the trail, such as it was, had been fairly easy to follow. On the other side of the ridge it became much more difficult.
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Chip, Eric, Roger, Shelby, Andrew, and Danny - Every now and then we can find a section of the old tread such as this one crossing a break in the trees.
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Buck Mountain from Phelps Ridge. - Andrew . After a long slog through the woods in a mostly futile search for the old trail we finally come out into the meadows. Buck Mtn beyond Andrew.
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After a series of false trails we finally hook up to the old tread again and are soon just one basin over from the Red Mountain trail (I recognized it from our Sept 1999 trip to Chiwawa Basin found HERE).
enlarge 66.03MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 25 2001 ka 006a day 2 bastard miles.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
I had hoped that we would be able to get to Massie Lake to camp, but the "Bastard" miles had taken their toll and sapped our (at least mine) time and energy. The video shows the scenic upper Chiwawa valley including Chiwawa and Fortress mountains.
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Fortress Mountain looms over the Chiwawa valley. We camped here for the night - a beautiful spot. I was not too disappointed that we hadn't made Massie Lake as planned as it was across the valley and many "bastard" miles away, including as steep and difficult a trail as the one coming up Phelps Ridge.)
enlarge 66.23MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 27 2001 ka 007a day 2 Camp 2.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
Our camp site just off the Red Mtn Trail. Usually, we're getting into camp fairly late and having to do dishes using headlamps. Today we were early and had time to enjoy some leisure time in camp.
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With time and energy to burn, Andrew, Shelby, and Roger hiked up the old Red Mountain trail (actually an old road built to access a couple of mining adits high up on the ridge). Shelby is exploring this one.
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Shelby and Roger hiking up to the top of the ridge from old mine site.
enlarge 158KB, 800x522 31 2001-365-010 Meadows below Red Mountain.
enlarge 222KB, 800x525 32 2001-365-011 The Ridgetop is getting closer.
enlarge 103KB, 551x800 33 2001-365-012 Shelby inspects another old shaft further up the hill.
enlarge 161KB, 800x522 34 2001-365-013 Roger pondering the route.
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View over the edge - Spider Meadow is in shadow as the sun sets. Seven Fingered Jack and Mt. Maude crown Entiat Ridge across the valley.
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Showing almost the full length of the Spider Glacier with Spider Gap at the pass at the left of the photo.
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Far below the foot of the Spider Glacier can be seen. We've been up that way many times before.
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Andrew on Phelps Ridge above the Spider Glacier - Spider Gap can be seen beyond at the top of the Spider Glacier.
enlarge 121KB, 548x800 39 2001-365-018 Looking southwest across the Chiwawa valley to Buck Mountain.
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Roger and Shelby elect to ford the stream rather than use the logs and branches. Just beyond the ford the old sheep driveway climbs very steeply up to Massie Lake.
enlarge 170KB, 521x800 41 2001-364-025 Danny crossing the Chiwawa River.
enlarge 188KB, 538x800 42 2001-365-019 Bill's turn over the Chiwawa River. The footing is tricky.
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Bill on his way up the Massie Lake Trail. Although the trail has been long abandoned, the old tread can still be followed. It is hard to believe that horses once used to use this trail it is so steep.
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The old tread breaks out of the woods and at the top of this switchback, a spur trail leads around the shoulder for a quick descent to Massie Lake.
enlarge 203KB, 524x800 45 2001-364-028 Danny and Andrew - Almost to the top.
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Rounding the bend, Massie Lake comes into view - Danny and Andrew are almost there.
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L to R: Chiwawa Mtn (8459'), Peak 8134' ,and Red Mtn (7646) anchor Phelps Ridge across the Chiwawa valley.
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As night fell we saw this weird cloud to the east. Turns out it was from a fire near Lake Chelan. Although we weren't affected by the smoke, hazy skies persisted for the rest of the trip as evident in the photos.
enlarge 90.43MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 49 2001 ka 008a day 3 how to start a fire.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
enlarge 109.36MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 50 2001 ka 009 day 3 Phelps Ridge from Massie Lake.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
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Breaking camp at Massie Lake - This is a very beautiful lake with nice campspots.
enlarge 67.86MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 52 2001 ka 010 day 4 Leaving Massie Lake Camp.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
enlarge 198KB, 524x800 53 2001-364-031 Andrew packed up and ready to go
enlarge 238KB, 800x521 54 2001-364-032 Chip, Eric, Danny, Roger, Shelby and Andrew - Ready to leave Massie Lake.
Danny on Massie Lake High Route above Massie Lake. The trail heads up to the right of that rocky outcrop above.
enlarge 163.71MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 57 2001 ka 011 day 4 Massie Lake High Rte break.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
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Across the way is our route along the western side of Phelps Ridge. We crossed the ridge at the low point to the right of the photo.
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Bill climbing up to ridge top above Massie Lake (as seen in the previous photo) - Red Mtn on Phelps Ridge is across Valley.
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Chip and Eric - the vague tread that brought us here peters out in the meadow beyond and we are on our own. Glacier Peak can be seen behind the trees to the left.
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Breaktime on the ridge crest - Chip, Eric, Andrew, Roger & Danny You can see the rocky outcrop beyond
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enlarge 113KB, 800x523 63 2001-365-026 Buck Mountain across the way.
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Starting out - the tread soon disappears. We scouted ahead traversing across steep meadows and finally find a way down through the cliffs.
enlarge 147KB, 580x800 65 2001-365-029 Buck Mountain slowly slips behind us as we traverse the ridge.
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There appeared to have been some use of this shortcut through the rocks to the meadow beyond.
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A steep descent down the meadow then a traverse to a large basin which was noted as a camp on the Routes and Rocks map had no water this year. We also pick up the vague tread again as it leaves the basin.
enlarge 96.22MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 68 2001 ka 012 day 4 Massie Lake High Rte basin.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
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Andrew and Danny at one of the many basins along the route. Buck Mountain beyond.
enlarge 192KB, 800x525 70 2001-365-033 Bill and Andrew ponder the route. The vague tread continues.
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Danny traversing Massie Ridge. The High Pass route goes up the ridge across the valley.
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Cascade Bill taking a break near the end of the days travel. Andrew got quite a laugh at the grizzled prospector look.
enlarge 202.65MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 73 2001 ka 013 day 4 Massie Lake High Rte Camp 4.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
enlarge 183KB, 800x560 74 2001-366-006 Quiet time in camp along Massie Ridge.
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Hazy sky obscures the view to the east. We found that the haze was due to fires started by the thunderstorms our first night out.
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As the sun dips below the horizon, Glacier Peak shimmers in the distance
enlarge 143.39MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 77 2001 ka 014 day 4 Massie Lake High Rte Camp 4 Twilight.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
enlarge 62.49MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 78 2001 ka 015 day 5 Massie Lake High Rte.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
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The tread can be seen traversing the ridge. It dissapears for good when it drops into the meadows below Helmut Butte beyond.
enlarge 197KB, 800x558 80 2001-366-009 Danny and Andrew disappear around the bend.
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Andrew, Roger, Danny, Eric, and Shelby - taking a break along trail to High Pass above Buck Creek Pass. Helmut Butte in background.
enlarge 155KB, 800x583 82 2001-366-011 Cascade Bill along trail to High Pass.
enlarge 97.15MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 83 2001 ka 016 day 5 Buck Cr Pass to High Pass 1.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
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Danny along Trail to High Pass - the Massie Lake High Route followed the benches of the ridge across the valley.
enlarge 106KB, 800x523 85 2001-365-034 Looking across the valley at our route of the day before.
enlarge 59KB, 800x580 86 ka084 Our camp was in the first small meadow above the forest on the left.
enlarge 61KB, 800x592 87 ka083 More of the Massie Lake High Route
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Massie Lake High Route follows the benches of the ridge across the Buck Creek Valley. Note Seven Fingered Jack and Mount Maude in the hazy distant ridge.
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Andrew along trail to High Pass - this route was constructed to be part of an alternate of the Cascade Crest Trail on the east side of Glacier Peak. That project was abandoned and the trail dead ends at a pass near Triad Lake.
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Andrew heading up the trail which ends at the saddle above. The trail is not maintained and there are a couple of spots where you need sure feet and a calm head.
enlarge 135KB, 536x800 91 2001-365-036 Looking back along trail - Bill has almost made it to the saddle.
enlarge 136KB, 608x800 92 2001-365-037 Andrew above Triad Lake.
enlarge 126KB, 597x800 93 2001-365-038 Guys taking a break at viewpoint above Triad Lake.
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The constructed trail ends at the saddle below, but a crude boot track contrinues up the next hill to High Pass. (Danny and Roger)
enlarge 153KB, 563x800 97 2001-366-020 On our way...
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The old "bootworn" track is very steep. The guys are near the top of the first section.
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High Pass lies at the head of this snowfield. We thought we would be able to cross this because of the low snowpack but the snow field blocked our progress and we would have to return to Buck Creek Pass to camp.
enlarge 185.86MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 100 2001 ka 017 day 5 Adios Napeequa.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
enlarge 136KB, 568x800 101 2001-366-022 Triad Lake - Danny and the guys went down for a swim. Brrrr!
enlarge 124KB, 800x525 102 2001-366-023 Andrew - Ready to head back to Buck Creek Pass.
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Bill - if only we could get over that snowfield and down the Napeequa. Not this year. (Shelby and Danny below are returning from side trip to Triad Lake)
enlarge 87KB, 800x525 104 2001-366-024 Andrew
enlarge 190KB, 645x800 105 2001-366-025 Back down the Trail.
enlarge 122KB, 800x586 106 2001-365-042 Andrew at camp at Buck Creek Pass.
enlarge 152KB, 558x800 107 2001-365-043 Roger getting ready for the hike out to the car.
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Chip putting the tent away for the last time on this hike. It was Chip's last night camping with the troop! (rev 10/2022)
enlarge 167.68MB, 900x506 Download MPEG4 109 2001 ka 018 day 6 Camp 5 Oatmeal Breakfast.mp4 VIDEO - Click Photo to View.
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During the night, the onshore flow brought a sea of clouds in from the west blanketing Buck Creek Pass in fog and mist. Buck Creek Pass is on the Cascade Crest and on the east side of the pass the fog gives way to sun and clear skies - a most unusual sight.
enlarge 217KB, 634x800 111 2001-366-026 Shelby and Roger - ready for the Fatburger at the end of the trail.