Spider Meadow and Phelps Basin, Upper Lyman Lake, Cloudy Pass to Holden, Buck Creek Pass, High Pass, Napeequa River & Boulder Creek — Friday, Sep. 12, 2014

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East

This is a trip of the Spider Meadow-Buck Creek Loop with additions...continuing on to High Pass,down to the Napeequa valley and out via the Boulder Pass/Boulder Creek trail...55+ miles. Sept 12 7.5 miles 1230-1700 Its a very easy trail to Spider Meadow of about 5 miles and the trail is always in great shape. The meadows have great views with many campsites. But we always choose to get up the steep path to the Gap overlook...its about 7.5 miles total. This is a fantastic place to camp for the views,etc. There is a reliable stream from the melting snowfield. For the best view, a little more work is in store. Take a right at the sign for the toilet and crawl up the very steep path to the top. There is a grassy saddle there which is vey good but persevere to the right up a little more steep to the balcony (penthouse). This is the view! Room for 3-4 tents...one of the best campsites in the Cascades!..only drawback is lugging water up to it. Sept 13 7.5 miles 0930-1500 Its an easy hike up the snowfield because of the warm morning...mile up to the top of the Gap. You can also take the path on the rocks to the East and follow the cairns. Both culminate past the Gap with incredible views of Upper Lyman Lakes ,Cloudy Pass, Bonanza Peak and other mounts to the North. Again it was an easy journey down the softening Lyman snowfield...no spikes,etc needed but would be it is is iced up. The bottom glacier off Chiwawa mountain continues to recede yet the area is very impressive for a closeup look at the glaciers and upper valley. It is a very scenic hike down to Lyman Lake passing/winding thru meadows and rockfields. Then an easy hike up to Cloudy Pass of 2.5 miles. we camped at a campsite at the pass, water is 10 minutes down the east side of the pass. Again great views of the valley and surrounding mountains. Two sidetrips then were done...#1 went south, up the rocks and along an up/down traverse of a ridge that extends from Chiwawa Mountain. We stopped after a mile at a rocky overlook of the upper Miners Creek valley. Let your feet dangle above this deep hole and gaze at Fortress Mountain with Glacier Peak not far off also. Then off to #2 take path north of the pass to a meadow, then take the highest path that contours above the meadow below Northstar Peak. Go to the end and then scramble up the ridge to the jumbled,rocky peak..8068'. Its about hour and half but you get in your face views of Bonanza,Boston,Buckner,Stormking,etc from this view looking north. Sept 14 17 miles 0830-1900 A long day hiking some of the most beautiful areas of the Glacier Peak Wilderness. Took the high route thru the rocks to Suiattle Pass, then down Miners Creek,up to Middle Ridge (didn't have time to do the ridge walk, highly recommended) then down and up to Buck Creek Pass. We watered up at the Buck Creek camp spring and then off to High Pass. Just follow the trail past the spring towards the far meadow and take the right trail which will lead you up and up. The trail (path) on the east side of the Buck Mountain Gap is very narrow,rocky,sandy and slippery. Will always recommend trekking poles past this point, if snow, turn back....you cant slip on this path. It was late afternoon by the time we got to the saddle overlooking Triad Lake...one of my favorite spots anywhere. No campsites but sublime meadow/view/lake/mountains! Then it is a verrrry steep up a knoll then around pumice laden basins to the (usual) snowfield you have to cross to get over High Pass. Ah, they were gone this year at this date...so we clamber over the boulders and then over the pass into the basin of the North Fork of the Napeequa River. We camped at a small area that has a grassy ridge protecting...this is a very exposed area to camp. The views and area are similar to the Enchantments but this valley is more isolated,wilder and lonely...perfect...so we finished off the day with a bottle of Ardbeg. Sept 15 11.5 miles 0930-1830 Little cool this morning, the mud is starting to freeze up on the trails and the way down is steep. The hike is on unmaintained,faint or nonexistent trails..saty on the far right (west) of the stream. Its a pretty steep headwall thru the heather down a gap by the waterfall. Then its staying to the west side but following the high mounds of the terrain until the west stream tumbles off the ridge...at this point, the trail will eventually lead you to a crossing of the east stream and then follow down until valley levels out. At this point, look for cairns on the west side of the main stream and cross over....the faint path leads to an obvious high plateau on the west side of the valley. Great campsite here, but hopefully you enjoyed this very scenic and wild upper valley...because ....the next part isn't fun...but it is short. Look for the path on the right side in the woods, follow it down a very steep,narrow,brushy,dusty or wet path. Hang onto roots,trees to break your slips. We emerge after 30 minutes, cross over the stream and follow the Napeequa trail down valley to Louis Falls. Stop here for a shower....very impressive high,cascading falls. After another 2 miles, come to a signed junction for the Napeequa Ford. Take a right down the gully...it will be between 2-3 feet and easy rocks....usually this late in the year. I don't think I would try it in July. Then up the rocky,switching,steep trail to Boulder Pass...past bleached out recent skeleton of a horse that didn't make it...don't recommend horses for this side of this pass or for Little Giant Pass either. Camped below the pass on pumice at the permanent snowfield. Sept 16 12 miles 0800-1400 Up early to get to Gustavs in Leavenworth for lunch. Lotsa switchbacks down the upper pass into Boulder Creek..then its an easy hike down the valley to White River trail and to the trailhead. This trail has been cleared of all deadfalls and brushed...in excellent shape. We ended up having the best September weather ever for this loop while enjoying some of the best trails/views of the Glacier Peak wilderness. The Fall colors were sublime but not at peak yet...will always recommend this loop for a great overall experience if you are ready for some tough trails and conditions.