Basalt Ridge, Rock Creek & Basalt Pass — Monday, Oct. 8, 2001

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East

Sleeting going over Stevens Pass, snow on the ridges above 4500-5000', but off I was to dry land and adventure up the Chiwawa River Valley. The peaks west of the area (i.e. Mount David, etc...) all were white half way up. However the recent moisture never made it as far as the Entiat Mountains and I never hit snow as I declared today the day to explore around Basalt Ridge and other area trails. I hiked up the Rock Creek trail from the main road #62 to start off the day in sunshine. Rock Creek was extremely photogenic and lined in areas with yellow douglas maples and quaking aspen trees. Much of the 2.5 miles up the trail are away from the creek, but still lovely. I then hit the trail junction and hiked up to Basalt Ridge where the trail hits the ridge just off the place where the Basalt Pass trail comes up to the pass from the other side. I had planned on hiking up to the summit of Basalt Peak, but no more than 10 minutes after starting on up that way on trail #1515 the western clouds suddenly blew across the valley and socked me in! I waited a bit, but didn't want to waste time waiting nor waste it stomping that way into a cloud, so turned the other way and hiked east on the Basalt Ridge trail. Sure enough, by the time I was at 5700' heading in the direction of what eventually goes to Garland Mountain I was high in the sun and views. Fall colors are everywhere now and there are even a few token stands of larch on the NE side of Basalt Peak. I ate some food, and while hiking back down to Basalt Pass saw Basalt Peak come back out to play again. Alas, I was out of time to hike way up that stretch by now, so I hiked on down the Basalt Pass trail #1530 down a VERY steep 1.5 miles to the trailhead on FS 6210. Huh' This isn't where I parked. Aha...little did the world know that I had stashed my mountain bike in the forest at this trailhead earlier in the day! The 5.8 mile all downhill blast out on the bike on a very good dirt surface was one of the funniest times I've had all summer coming out from a hike!! I decided not to wonder what would happen should I wipe out going about 25-30 MPH on the bike with a full pack and tripod whizzing on down behind me on my back! Once to the main road (only 13 minutes to get there), it was an easy ride up the Chiwawa River Road about five miles back to my parked rig. Life was indeed grand today.