Getting ready to head out. It was quite a logistical job to get everyone together. Danny and I came in my old Corolla, having met Roger in Monroe.  Roger and I shuttled the cars, leaving Roger's at Trinity. We left half the food/gear in the Corolla for the Stongs who would arrive much later.

Jill, Shelby, and Penny at the Phelps Creek Trailhead -   Shelby and Jill drove down to SeaTac to pick up Fred who flew in from Arizona.  Mike drove from Kenniwick and met the rest of the Stongs at the 59'er Diner.  You can see my Corolla to the right.

A little past Leroy Creek, the forest opens up and the trail passes through this lovely meadow.

Our camp is at the lower end of the meadows with it's great view.

After starting out with blue skies and sun, high clouds gradually blotted out the sun.  This view from lower Spider Meadow, just past where the trail emerges from the forest.

My firestarter "Big Momma" that my wife got me at a craft fair in the 80's.  I had two, but lost the first at the Suiattle hike in 1994.  We used it to light our gas stoves.

Unfortunately, "Big Momma" was left at our Massie Lake campsite.  In the intervening years, Mike Stong came up with its replacement, the "Stong Striker"

Shelby preparing dinner for our first night's camp - The Dragonfly stoves are really humming.

Map showing the designated camp spots in Spider Meadow - It can become quite crowded on a busy weekend.

Shelby and the "Pink Flamingo".  It was originally introduced on our Beartooth's hike in 2003, and has accompanied us on many of our hikes since.

Bill leaving Spider Meadow. (compare to photo from October 1982, when there were no gray hairs in my beard): Click Here

Approaching the upper end of Spider Meadow.  The trail to Spider Gap closely follows the Rock face above the trees.

Fred going up the steep miner's trail below the rockface cited earlier

Fred - after many switchbacks the trail is high above the valley below (note the rockface beyond)

Climbing up the old miners' trail, we get this view of Spider Meadow below us.  If you enlarge the photo to original size, you can see out first night's campsite at the edge of the meadow next to the forest (Look for the big rock).

Looking back at Spider Meadow - the tail end of our group is emerging from the brush to climb the switchbacks.

The trail deposits the hiker on a bench with a grand view of Spider Meadow below. There is room for a tent or two at this spot.  We took a long break before heading out up the  snowfield to Spider Gap.

Looking up from the base of the Spider Snowfield.  Those two dots are a couple of day hikers hiking up to the gap.

Fred getting a drink at the base of the snowfield while Penny looks on.

Out onto the snowfield - there is a trail that takes you near the top, but I think that going up the snow is a little easier.  One year (1994) the snowfield was really pockmarked and unsuitable for travel, so we took the trail.

Looking back down - Penny has just about caught up to Mike with Roger closely behind.  Jill and Shelby are next with Fred and Bill bringing up the rear far below.

Heading up the Snowfield - Fred ahead.  The snow is steep in places, and sometimes you slide back aways after taking a step.

Looking back (Mike) - Jill & Shelby have almost caught up to Roger.  Bill and Fred in the back are just rounding the bend.

Bill on the snowfield - at about the center of the first bend.  You can see that the snow was in good shape for climbing - soft, but not too soft.

I've made it around the bend and am looking up the snowfield - the others are making much better time than I am.  You can see that the climb is very steep. The extra "dots" are another group that is coming down the snowfield.

Getting closer to the false summit - you can see Fred's silhouette (and yellow bag) against the blue sky at the center of the photo.  You can measure my progress, by comparing the previous photo.

The snowfield flattens out a bit and you can see the top (Spider Gap) just to the left of center.

I think this photo was taken about the same time as my previous photo showing Fred at the false summit - Mike and Danny are already on top.  Shelby and Jill, followed by Roger, with Fred bringing up the rear.  Boy was I slow.

Danny, bless his heart, coming down to get my pack and carry it to the top.  You still can't see the Gap from here.

Danny with my pack.  He also brought me two sections of cantaloupe he had carried - quite a treat.

Past the false summit, the slope lessens a bit and it is a little easier going.

Looking back down from the Gap.  There seemed to be a lot less snow than there was in 1997   Look at the rocks at the left of the photo to compare.

Looking over to the other side of the Gap you see a trail heading up.  This trail leads to the old "mine".

On the other side of the Gap is Lyman Basin.  We've still got a long way to go before we get to our camp.

If you climb a little higher up from the gap you can get a glimpse of Lyman Lake far below.

Telephoto view from Spider Gap: the twin peaks of Sitting Bull Mtn and the much higher Dome Peak in the distance. Cloudy Pass is the low point on the ridge in the foreground.

Looking down the snowfield on the Lyman side of Spider Gap.  You go down this snowfield as far as it goes.

At the end of the snowfield you have to make your way down a steep talus slope.

Remnant of the Lyman Glacier - In 1980, the front of the glacier was a massive wall extending as far as the ice covered snow does on the lake. Back then it was a really impressive sight. (Will add link to older photos when I have scanned them in).

If you look closely (or enlarge photo) you can see Mike making his way down the rocky slope. The top of Jill's pack is visible at the far right as well.

Looking back on the glacier - a shadow of it's former self - 1997

As you make your way down through the rocks, there are various cairns supposedly guiding the way. Shelby followed one down and ended up rolling down a steep slope.  A better way is to bear to the right at the end of the snowfield and make your way down to the stream flowing from the snowfield.

Can you find the Cairn?  I had a bad fall in this area and really skinned my shin.

Mike - You can see the snowfield leading down from the Gap above his head.  You can also see that there is a lot of talus to make your way down from the snowfield.

A small pond along the way - before the descent to Lyman Lake, you climb this small hill.  Jill and Mike are at the top of the hill (enlarge to view).

Cloudy Pass and Cloudy Peak to the left and right above Lyman Lake.

Jill and Mike appear on the trail at the left as the camera pans past Cloudy Peak on to the impressive Bonanza Peak.

Cloudy Peak and Bonanza Peak- you can see Shelby on the trail.  He came back up from the lake to get my pack.  At the end of the day I was exhausted and went right to bed (Roger put up my tent) without eating supper.

They put the Flamingo at the side of the trail to mark out campsite for the stragglers like me to find

We took a break where the trail breaks out of the forest below Cloudy Pass.  We didn't want to break at the pass as we thought it would be windy and cold.

Cloudy Pass is just above us - still a bit of climb left.  If you enlarge the photo, you can see the trail traversing to the pass.

Looking back towards Spider Gap and the Lyman Glacier (telephoto view).  You can see the snowfield and the talus covered slope we came down the previous day.

Telephoto view of Upper Lyman Lake and our route down from Spider Gap.

The trail drops down to Lyman Lake from the ridge above the trees in the foreground.

Looking to the left of the previous series of photos - view is down Railroad Creek across to Dumbbell Mtn.

Bill taking in the view (one of the 5 best in the Cascades).  You can see our group spread out along the trail.

Following Jill and Shelby just before reaching Cloudy Pass.

Roger, Shelby, Danny, and Bill ready to start descending down the other side of Cloudy Pass.

Field of Lupine set among alpine firs on the way down. The twin peaks of Sitting Bull Mtn across the valley.

The view down Agnes creek from the Hiker's Alternate -you can see the main trail as it skirts the talus slope.

Taking the "Hiker's Alternate" to Suiattle Pass.  This sketchy route saves about 400 feet of descent and then 400 feet of climbing.

You can see the group ahead along the "Hiker's Alternate" - I'm going slow along this stretch.  We took a break at Suiattle Pass (low point on the horizon) for lunch.

Looking down Agnes Creek from the Hiker's Alternate.  You can see the main trail as it crosses the meadow to the left of center below.

We took a break at the site of the proposed "Glacier Peak Mines". There was a lot of old mining equipment and ruined structures left from the explorations in the 1960's

A bitter battle raged over the open pit copper mine that was proposed for this site.  More info can be found HERE

In 1983, on my last 50 miler with the "Old-timers" from Troop 24, we camped here. Photo album of the 1983 trip can be found HERE

After a pretty stiff climb of 600' you reach a basin (shown here).  Lady Camp (where Greg and I camped in 1980) is in the woods above the trail.

Clouds look increasingly menacing - it is cold and dreary along the trail

The "Hiker's Alternate" connects to the main Cascade Crest trail, which we follow down to the Miner's Ridge Trail. We headed out the trail to Image Lake along Miner's Ridge.  Here, shrouded in clouds is Glacier Peak (to the right).  Note the "foggy" area to the left of Glacier Peak.  We saw this again when we hiked over to Buck Cr. Pass.  Don't know whether it's dust, fog, or smoke.

Penny, Shelby, and Fred making their way along the trail through the meadows of Miner's Ridge.

Penny has caught up to Roger - looking back along the Miner's Ridge trail toward Plummer Mtn you can see Shelby, Mike, and Fred.

As far as amenities go, this trip featured Kybo's at Spider Meadow, Lyman Lake and this one at the Image Lake Camp area. When there are no clouds, this "Kybo" has the best view of any other Kybo in the cascades as you can sit on the throne and contemplate Glacier Peak just across the valley.

Day 4 - During the night, we had a heavy rain and we woke up to a damp and cold camp.  Here we are getting ready to head out.

Image Lake - There would be no reflected image of Glacier Peak today.

The camp is out of sight below the lake.  Bill is hiking up to the main trail that goes by the lake.

Despite the gloom, there were a few patches of blue sky now and then.  This one gives a peek-a-boo view of Glacier Peak poking through the clouds.  We didn't get a chance to see the reflected view of Glacier Peak in Image Lake this trip, which is also supposed to be one of the 5 best views in the Cascades.

You can see a tiny bit of Image Lake peeking out between the trees at the center. If you enlarge the photo to Original size, you can see Roger on the  trail coming up from the Image Lake camp area.

We sighted a bear just above the timberline below (black dot).  We didn't feel threatened, but Shelby had a face to face encounter with it sometime later when he was on the trail.

Telephoto view (digitally enhanced) of the bear.  It definitely knew we were there.

Jill heading back along Miner's Ridge.

Looking back towards Plummer Mtn. We're heading back along the Miner's Ridge trail that we hike yesterday.

Snowfield just below Lady Camp (Greg & I camped here in 1980) - it is the horse camp for Image Lake.

Fred crossing stream along the Miner's Ridge Trail.

Fred.  At this point the sun was breaking through the clouds from time to time

Bill - I remember this stream from our 1997 Kickass I trip.  Steve and Charlie were adamant about filtering their water at the beginning of the trip.  I told them that where there was little risk if there was nobody camping in the basin, they religiously pumped their water in the morning.  Then on the 6th day, I came around the bend to this stream and saw them filling their water bottles directly from the creek. (Note no one got sick after the trip, or on any of our trips).

We stopped for lunch near the junction with the Crest trail.  While we were there we saw four more bears high on Plummer Mtn. Our break spot is located Here.  The old cabin shown in the following photos is just north of this spot and can be seen on the Google Map.

Near our lunch spot, there is an old cabin in the meadow (you can see it on the Topo map and the Google Map referenced earlier).

Shelby found a pair of old iron bedsteads, which he was contemplating carrying out (we convinced him that that was a bad idea.)  Shelby also found a 1950's era Army stretcher and also had to be dissuaded from carrying it out.

I don't know what the hell this, but I pity the poor horse who had to pack in in

Another one! The old bottle indicates that someone had a good time here.

After lunch, we headed down the PCT at one of the switchbacks we got this view of cloud shrouded Fortress Mtn.

Heading down the Cascade Crest Trail we take a photo break looking down Miner's Creek.

Bill - The Cascade Crest Trail originally climbed up the ridge to Image Lake and then along Miner's Ridge to Suiattle Pass.  This section bypassing Image Lake passes through non scenic Suiattle Pass and the views along Miner's Ridge.  Most Crest trail travelers miss both of the best views at Cloudy Pass and Image Lake and just valley pound up Miner's Creek and then down Agnes Creek. Shame on them.

Our original plan was to hike back up the Buck Creek Pass trail and camp at Sheep Camp along the ridge, but we decided to forgo the long climb and camp where the Crest trail crosses Miner's creek.

Here Shelby and Roger are preparing our big dinner, Chili.  Originally we just added sausage and cheese.  Now there are onions, garlic, garnishes, etc. for quite a gourmet meal.

Enjoying the campfire - Shelby has removed a few coals and is heading up some popcorn.  Danny is reading a book (as usual)

Just after dark, two through hikers (Mexico to Canada) stopped to camp - they had been 165 days on the trail.

Climbing up the Buck Creek Pass trail after climbing through forest, we finally break out into meadows. From the meadows you can look back across to Miner's Ridge and Plummer Mtn.  As you can see the weather was great - not a cloud in the sky, quite a change from the previous day.

Gurgling brook in the meadows along the Middle Ridge Trail opposite Miner's Ridge.

We took a long break where the trail goes over the crest of Middle Ridge. There is a sheepherder's trail that continues up the ridge from here.
 
In 1997 When we got to the ridge crest, we met "Pink Cheeks" and her companion again.  We had planned on going up the ridge to a little basin to camp, but that was where PC and friend were headed so rather than impose a big group on limited camping options, I opted to continue on the Buck Cr Pass trail. This turned out to be a bad decision (no good deed goes unpunished!) in that we had to camp in a crappy camp at Small Creek instead of high up in the meadows.  Basically we were pitching our tents in the trail - no one was happy that night.

After a stiff climb we reached the top of Middle Ridge, where we took a well earned break.

Fred discussing a range of topics from the Troop Gliders in WWII to the Space Shuttle (Why we love him!).

Looking down at the north side of the Miner's Creek Valley and the Suiattle beyond.  The end of Miner's Ridge is at the right and beyond them is snow covered Sulphur Mtn.

To the north, Plummer Mtn, Suiattle Pass and peaks along the east ridge of Agnes Creek: (L to R) Needle, Dark, and Bonanza

Looking down from the ridge you can see the trail we just came up as it emerged from the forest into the meadows.

BM is located as shown on the map HERE.  Note that the trail shown on the map is not near the BM.

After climbing to the top of Middle Ridge (to the right), we drop way down (about 1100') to Small Creek (shown below).  Then its another climb up to Buck Cr Pass.  Here the trail switchbacks up the side of a steep and hot avalanche slope. (I fired Buckwheat as the pace setter here in 1997 for going too fast).

Mike caught this annotation on a log that the trail crew had sawed on the side of the trail

This sign is at the top of the ridge where the Middle Ridge Tr meets the Buck Cr Pass-Flower Dome Tr.

After climbing out of Small Creek we hit the ridge leading to Flower Dome and get the first view of Glacier Peak since leaving the crest of Middle Ridge.

Telephoto view of the Suiattle Glacier and the upper Suiattle River valley

Ahead we can see Buck Creek Pass and the distinctive Liberty Cap.  If you enlarge the picture, you can see the trail to High Pass switchbacking up Liberty Cap.

Signpost at the Junction of the Buck Cr Pass - Flower Dome Tr with the Trail to Buck Creek Pass (and on to High Pass).  This is located HERE.  You can see that the topo map location of the trails in the area are not exactly as they are in reality.

Roger heading down to where Shelby is taking a break on the way to the pass.

Looking back up the trail at our break spot. Greg and I camped near this spot in 1978.

Sign for Designated Horse(shit) camps -- I know cause I've had to camp in some of them

We took a short break at Buck Cr Pass before heading back down the Buck Cr Trail.

Following the trail down from Buck Creek Pass, we camped in the basin below Pass No Pass.  Our camp was pretty cramped, but we found room for all our tents.

Roger cooking dinner as Bill watches.  You can see that the temperature dips when the sun goes down.

Mike engineered a convenient water spout for filling our 5 gallon jugs at the nearby stream.

Day 6- Getting ready to leave camp.  We'll be taking the Massie Lake High Route over to Massie Lake.  You can see Buck Cr Pass and Liberty Cap beyond.

Looking across the valley.  If you enlarge to "Original Size", you can see the trail to High Pass as it crosses the steep meadowed slope opposite.

Telephoto view of the ridge opposite.  The trail to High Pass is just to the right of the snowfield at the center of the picture.

Looking back we get a good view of Glacier Peak framed above Buck Creek Pass between Liberty Cap on the left and Helmet Butte on the right. The trail you see going up to the pass is the Buck Cr. Pass trail.

After a short while, the trail crosses a meadowed bench.  We stayed at this camp site in 2001 as we hiked the high route in the opposite direction (Massie Lake to Buck Cr Pass).  :Click Here  It doesn't look like too many people have camped here since 2001.

Shelby and Fred - We took our lunch break in a small basin with a babbling brook with an outstanding view of Buck Mtn across the valley.

This basin is the one west of the little knob (elev 6082') on the Topo Map.

Climbing up over pass between the ridge and the knob (elev 6082'), we cross another basin.  In 2001 this basin was as dry as a bone with no snowfield.  There is vague tread leading out of this basin into the meadows beyond the trees above.

If you enlarge this photo, you can see the route up the slope beyond.  You go above the fir near the rocks and follow a vague tread to the right.  See This from 2001 as we cross the rocks leading to the slope, and This as we head down the steep slope - you can see the knob (elev 6082) and the basin (sans snowfield) below.

As the group goes ahead, I realize that we have to climb up the steep slope to the left that we had come down in 2001 - for route see previous photo.

It was a hard steep climb up the slope.  This view is from the rocks above the slope.  You can see the basin with the snowfield below.

Another View.  From here you traverse steep slopes heading east until you hit the ridge that separates the Buck Cr and Chiwawa drainages.  Try to stay at about 6500' elevation.  We climbed a little high and had to scout along the ridge to find the trail down.   When you hit the ridge, head for the "hunchback" rock seen in this Photo which shows our 2001 group taking a break at the spot where the trail hits the ridge.