We retrace our steps back up to the trail and continue on good tread up to the ridge separating the Chiwawa River and Buck Creek. The tread peters out in the high (and steep) meadows. At one point, you descend through rocks to a steep meadow that you have to climb down (you can see the basin you want to reach) and finally find some tread. The route along the ridge is a little more reasonable than that of Phelps Ridge, with more frequent stretches of trail (especially as you near Buck Cr Pass). We found a gem of a camp in a meadow with great views of Buck Mtn and Glacier Peak.