Day 1
On August 29th, 2022, we entered the Thirty Mile Trailhead and travelled
Along the Chewuch River Trail (#510) to an established campsite on Chewuch River below Tungsten/Chewuch Junction. The trail was well maintained, was situated well away from the Chewuch water source most of the 8.86 miles, and was exposed to the sun most of the way. It was so hot, we stopped mid-hike to swim in one of the rare intersections of the river with the trail. Beautiful views of rocky canyon walls, forested valley hills, flowers, and Chewuch Falls & the meandering Chewuch River.
Suggestions: wear a hat; come with water for 6 miles of hiking in the sun; treat all water from the Chewuch. A person in my hiking party contracted Cryptosporidium and was sick 7 days after drinking untreated water there.
Campsite Description: well established on the shore of the Chewuch; bench; flat rock for gas stove; easy places to hang water filtration bag; great water access.
Time Hiking: 4 hours
Elevation Start: 3400
Elevation Finish: 4664
Tracked Elevation Gain: 1508
Tracked total distance: 8.86 miles
Wildlife: bear cub, squirrels, chipmunk, night-singing birds
Berries: Elderberries, thimbleberries, & raspberries
Issues: developed migraine and had to medicate
Day 2
On August 30th, we left camp and continued hiking on the Chewuch River Trail (#510), passing the Tungsten Trail Junction and continuing to the Four Point Lake Trail (#505). The Chewuch River Trail was well maintained, and was less exposed at this point. It was mostly situated away from the river, so water access was limited. Views of forest, large slabs of rock, & rocky canyon walls. After a long slow 700’ of gain, we found the junction to Four Point Lake Trail and stopped there for lunch. Then we proceeded up the 4 Point Lake Trail. Immediately we needed to cross a very mildly flowing section of the Chewuch. This involved taking off our boots. We climbed the 4PL Trail for over two miles and made 1400’ of gain. We encountered massive blowdowns in the last 1/3 of the trail. They were 25-50 yards in length, involving up to 50 trees at a time. I had a headache, was hot, and tired, and this was very difficult for me. My hiking partner didn’t think it was as bad. My shorter height also made going over the logs more challenging. Sunset behind and sunrise on the rocky peak near 4PL were both amazing.
Suggestions: Fill up on water when able, take lunch at the ford of the Chewuch on 4PL trail instead of at the junction (cooler), be strong, flexible, and have endurance for the blowdowns. Wayfinding skills recommended as the blowdowns occur on switchbacks and the trail is often lost.
Campsite description: Logs to sit on, fire pit with flat rock for gas stove, places to hang water filtration bag
Time hiking: 4 hour 43 min of hiking
Hours of travel: 9:14-2:31
Elevation start: 4633’
Elevation Finish: 6840’
Tracked Elevation Gain: 2180’
Tracked distance: 8 miles
Wildlife: (at lake) Hawks, Ravens, various, songbirds, squirrels, trout, dragonflies
Bugs: Flies (non-biting)
Berries: low-growth tiny huckleberries (at the lake)
Issues: Migraine. Needed medication
Day 3
On August 31st, we left camp and hiked cross country to the east saddle above the lake. We wayfinded down the backside of the ridge toward the Chewuch River Trail to avoid the blowdowns on the 4PL Trail. This route was exceptionally steep and involved large tarn, loose gravel, thick bushes, blowdowns, cliffs, and wetland. This route was wooded so sun exposure was minimal. We found the Chewuch River and crossed it over a log. The Chewuch River Trail was nearby and we followed it toward Remmel Lake. We found 2 miles of minor blowdowns that were exposed to the midday sun. This was a chore for me. Much less for my partner. We continued up a ridge (the reroute trail) which wasn’t as exposed, but was steep with some blowdowns. There was one flowing stream on this route. Then we descended on trail #562a toward the lake and found a campsite at the lakes edge. After searching the entire perimeter of the lake for other sites, we realized this was the only established one. Sunset and Sunrise were spectacular. Remmel Mountain towered crossed the lake from our camp.
Suggestions: Have good way finding skills for cross country route. Be very flexible, have strong knees, and have good balance for the cross country descent.
Remmel Lake Campsite description: 1 Log to sit on, no fire pit, no flat rock for gas stove, one difficult-to-find snag to hang water filtration bag, slightly bumpy area for tent
Time hiking: 6 hour 45 min of hiking
Hours of travel: 8:45-3:42
Elevation start: 6840’
Elevation Finish: 7340’
Tracked Elevation Gain: 1554’
Tracked distance: 9.1 miles
Wildlife: (at lake) Ravens, various, songbirds, dragonflies
Bugs: no issues
Berries: none
Issues: Migraine. Needed medication
Day 4
On September 1st, we left Remmel Lake via trail #565a, went east on #510, and found the Lesamiz Trail (#565) with a couple hundred feet of gain. The trail was well maintained and wooded. On the Lesamiz, beautiful views opened up. Massive green meadows, wildflowers, wetland streams and pocket lakes, rock structures, low growth flora, all surrounded by beautiful rock peaks (Remmel, Bald, Ampitheater). The trail was well maintained, and meandered up and down rolling hills. After 300’ of gain, we found the Boundary Trail (#533) and went east. We passed an unmarked trail to right, the Lower Cathedral Lake Trail, and then came along the massive black cliffs of Ampitheater Mountain. We hiked across a beautiful rock trail which led to Cathedral Lake. At the lake we found a camp at the far west end below a grand Ampitheater cliff. Views of Ampitheater and Cathedral were overwhelming. Sunset gave a very rosy golden hour and sunrise the next morning over the pass was beautiful.
Suggestions: Chill and enjoy an easy day of hiking. Swim at the lake.
Campsite Description: flat area on the shore of the lake for a tent; bench rocks; flat rock for gas stove; no easy places to hang water filtration bag; great water access.
Time Hiking: 2 hours
Hours of travel: 8:57am-10:54am
Elevation Start: 6896’
Elevation Finish: 7385’
Tracked Elevation Gain: 696
Tracked total distance: 3.34 miles
Wildlife: Trout
Bugs: Flies (non-biting), some mosquitoes at lake
Berries: low-growth huckleberries on the trail
Issues: none
Day 5
On September 2nd we left Cathedral Lake via the Boundary Trail #533 going west. We gained a couple hundred feet of elevation and travelled over Cathedral Pass. Then descended on a well maintained trail beneath Cathedral Peak. The trail was very exposed but the morning sun made travel easy. Beautiful views of the forested Valley, passes, and peaks stood before us while we descended the 300’ to Apex Pass. There we found green meadows, wildflowers, low growth flora, and a few wetland streams. The trail was well maintained and became less exposed to the sun here. We came upon the Tungsten Mine and had lunch. We explored. At the Tungsten Junction we took the Tungsten Creek Trail (#534) and descended over 2000’. This trail is steep, rand ocky with many trip and slip hazards. It was flooded in places with natural spring overflows and included a lot of mud walking. It became exposed in some places and was very hot. At the junction with the Chewuch River Trail (#510) we went east and found the water crossing where we camped the first night. We rested and filled our water bladders. We continued on toward the Thirty Mile Trailhead and after 20 miles of hiking, concluded our hike as the moon rose.
Suggestions: Keep your water filled, be wary of trips and slips
Time Hiking: 8 hours, 42 minutes
Hours of travel: 8:28am-7:51pm
Elevation Start: 7300’
Elevation Finish: 3400’
Tracked Elevation Gain: 922’
Tracked total distance: 20 miles
Wildlife: Squirrels, chipmunks
Bugs: Flies (non-biting)
Berries: wild raspberries, thimbleberries, elderberries
Issues: none
Comments