Windy Peak (Green Trails Horseshoe Basin) Brother Gary and I did a loop hike which included the summit of Windy Peak. According to Gary, a Tonasket local, Windy is the eastern most Pasayten WildernessPeak from which Mount Baker can be seen. And see it we did on an odd day when a small wild fire near Loomis blanketed a portion of the sky with smoke, while most of the views towards the Cascades were quite clear. We hiked an unmarked trail that follows the south ridge of Windy from FS Road #300 west of Long Swamp. We returned via the Windy Creek Trail and a small portion of road walking to complete about a 12 mile loop. The catch was that nearly every foot of trail we traveled on was subject to the intense burn of the Tripod Fire last summer. Charred trees, charred soil, and before we finished, charred clothing from brushing against and climbing over windfalls. A small campsite about 1/4 mile east of the trail leading down into the Chewack served as our parking spot. We traveled directly north from FS Road #300 and luckily Gary was able to pick up the route amidst numerous blowdowns formed by a firebreak alongside the roadway. We lost and picked up the route perhaps a dozen times, always staying on top of the ridge and keeping an eye out for cut logs marking the ""trail."" It's an unofficial route not marked on any maps of which I know. On the Green Trails map, the first portion of the trail follows the approximate wilderness boundary. Carry water on this dry trail. You can follow it until it merges with the trail from Long Swamp just south of the summit. On the portion of the ""trail"" above timberline, expect to navigate without tread. The south side of Windy can be tackled directly (easy Class 3) or the official trail swings around to the west side for a hiking ascent to the summit. On the return we picked up Trail #362 leading down into Windy Creek. Water is available less than 1/2 mile below the summit. Even on this main horse-packing trail, we had to keep alert to follow the trail. Nearly every bit of vegetation which would ordinarily mark the edge of the trail was consumed by the fire, rendering the ground a neutral black color on and off the trail. A thin edge of green vegetation follows Windy Creek and infrequently small pockets of green exist elsewhere. The power and size of the Tripod Fire are impressive. Windy makes a great dayhike if you're in the area and don't mind hiking through blackened forest. Others combine the ascent of Windy with camping in better-known and lesser fire-damaged Horseshoe Basin to the north. Charlie Hickenbottom, Wenatchee, 7/7/07

This trail was listed as closed due to snow and downed trees, but we took a shot at it and found that the trail is 99% snow free all the way to the summit at 8300'.

Windy Peak 8334 July 25 2004 Windy Peak is one of the big Bugler 100, located in the Pasayten Wilderness, about 3 hours north and east of Winthrop, Washington. Number 92 to be exact. Windy is probably the easiest of the High 100. There is a trail all the way to the summit. The challenge for us was getting information to get us to the Trailhead. I found three possible routes, Windy Creek Trail, Windy Peak Trail, and the Iron Gate. We chose the Iron Gate, which turned out to be the longest and hardest of the three possibilities. We drove around the long way through Omak, and Loomis, spending a leisurely afternoon. The dirt road is slow to the Iron Gate, and suitable for high clearance vehicles. There were about 20 cars parked there, most everyone was somewhere in Horseshoe Basin. We car camped for the night. About one half mile from the Trailhead we turned on to Trail 343 and descended almost 800' through Lodgepole Pine and then a beautiful Aspen Grove to the Middle Fork Toats Coulee Creek. We were glad to see the water and looked forward to jumping in on the way back. After crossing the creek we immediately gained 800' plus to the ridge on the other side. The Trail continued around the Ridge to finally join with the Windy Peak Trail 342 after 5 miles. (The Windy Peak Trail from Long Swamp Campground is probably the best choice. It is 12 miles round trip.) We followed the trail for two miles up the Ridge at 7,600', through green flowery meadows, and finally up some easy class 3 to the summit. As usual we were off the Trail and taking the most direct route.. On the Summit we were treated to no wind, and wonderful views in all directions. North Gardner, 8,956', Silver Star, 8,876' could be easily seen. Also, Cathedral, 8,601', and Remmel, 8,685'. We were surprised to find someone already on the Summit. Lynn from Tacoma, had been doing a peak a day in the Pasayten. It was fun talking to him. He said he climbed Mount Adams 113 times! It was fast and easy return, but a little hot. The afternoon winds came up beginning at 12 o'clock. Doerte and I made sure to take a cowboy bath in the creek. Refreshed, it was easy to do the last mile. 8 hours round trip, 14 miles, 3,100' in plus 800' out, 3,900 total elevation gain. Photos at http://www.grandcanyontreks.org/pasayten/windy/windy.html