[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
No Subject
Mike wrote:
>Afternoon.
>
>A friend and I are planning to do the Steven's Pass to Stehekin
>portion of Washington in September. Any advice, recommendations,
>thoughts, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
I have been having some thoughts on this section for the last few months.
I have been toying with doing this section (solo) - but with a few variations that substitute side
trails and detours for sections of the PCT that seem buried in river bottom forest.
I plan to start the hike on a 7 mi ridge trail (West Cady Ridge) that feeds into the PCT 25 miles
north of Stevens Pass and I want to bypass the section from Suiattle Pass to High Bridge (Agnes Creek)
by heading east on the Railroad Creek Trail (#1256) over Cloudy Pass to Lyman Lake and Holden then
take the Lady of the Lake up Chelan to Stehekin. From Stehekin its only 31 miles to Cascade Pass
(probably the most popular hiking destination in the North Cascades).
This isn't exactly a 'pure' PCT hike since not only would I be zig zaging east and west of the PCT but
cheating by using boats and shuttle buses - eg. Holden to Lucerne & Stehekin to High Bridge.
That stretch up Agnes Creek looks much less inviting than Railroad Creek Trail, especially when you
throw in the boat ride up to Stehekin!! I imagine I will maximizing the high points of the section.
>Also, looking for advice
>on a good hiking route to the top of Agnes Mtn. as well as to Trapper
>Lake near the High Bridge area of the trail. Thanks in advance.
>Brand new to the list and looking forward to taking part.
>
>Mike
>
For advice on Agnes Mountain I think you ought to take a look at Fred Beckey's CASCADE ALPINE GUIDE (vol 2).
This one is not a 'hike' but a technical climb. Most of the climbing routes are class 5 or better (though there are
a couple of class 4 routes). According to Becky "Agnes is seldom climbed and all approaches are rugged (only
fourteen parties succeeded in 1987)."
Trapper lake is another story. This one is not a major technical climb. You can take a shuttle bus from Stehekin
up to High Bridge and hike in to Trapper lake from there. But if you do that you are already well on your way to
Cascade Pass. You would really be missing something if you stopped at Trapper Lake. Cascade Pass is a 'must see'.
Best of luck,
Bill McKinley
* From the Pacific Crest Trail Email List | For info http://www.hack.net/lists *
==============================================================================