The Best Way Out

It was hot, a big change from the cold temperatures of the previous night.  We retraced our steps across the side hill leading to the trail back to camp.  The basin was gradually starting to let go of the snow and an icy stream ran out of its narrowest cleft.  Overwhelmed by the heat, we paused to get some water before continuing.  The stream proved too inviting in the heat.  I put my feet in and they instantly got numb.  Then I slowly slid in up to my waist.  There was no hesitation getting out as the cold water took effect.  Nice refreshment…and a big laugh for Woody, Mindy and Baer.

Very cold creek below Emerald Peak Basin.

We were back at camp by early afternoon and decided to pack up and head toward Grouse Pass.  3.5 mile walk with a little bit of altitude loss to skirt an arm on Cardinal Peak and gain the pass at 7150 feet.  Two hours later we were slowly walking up the final grade to the pass looking back toward Cardinal Peak.  The pass was a narrow place on an arm between a pinnacle and the rocky continuance of peaks that wrap around toward Pyramid Mountain.  We had covered a modest amount of distance. Climbing Emerald Peak in the morning, we gained and lost 1800 feet added to the gain and loss of 800 feet to get to Grouse Pass was a bit tiring.

Baer resting on Grouse Pass. Woody and I had not decided if we were going to set up our tent.

 Beautiful vistas, an alpine meadow on the arm and a small spring for water made for another spectacular place to camp.  We dropped our packs and started to explore up on the hillside.  The view across toward Pyramid Mountain and south toward the head of the Entiat Valley was spectacular with the Columbia Plain stretching out before us.  

Looking from Grouse Pass across to Pyramid Peak

 Toward the back of the boulder were several large vertical flat rocks that had been scorched from small fires and as evening came on we gathered wood for our last one of the trip.  A tree close to the rock provided a place to string our food up high enough to keep it out of the hands of critters or a bear.  We had seen lots of deer tracks on this trip, but no signs of bear.

A big flat topped boulder was a great place for dinner.

After dinner the sun dropped below dropped behind Gopher Mountain.  We climbed the ridge above camp to take in the vista and enjoy the scenery as the last rays of light filtered across the valley. Alpenglow covered the surrounding peaks with intense hues of crimson colors that mingled with deep blues and the silhouettes of trees along the ridge.  I forgot my headlamp in my pack, but he stars and moon was bright enough to light the way.  Heading down the hill toward camp I took a step and fell head first, flat on my face.  It surprised me as much as it was embarrassing – I must have been more tired than I thought.  My legs and feet decided not to cooperate.  I sat for a minute.  Got up and carried on down the hill.    

Cardinal Peak from Grouse Pass at sunset.

Our plan the next morning was to get a reasonably early start and take a look at walking the trail up Pyramid Mountain for a view of Lake Chelan.  The sun took a while to warm the tents enough arouse us out of the warm sleeping bags.  Reluctantly packing, we started on the last leg of the trip over the pass toward South Pyramid Creek valley and the trailhead.  The temperature inched toward 95 degrees and it was an easy decision not to walk the 3.2 miles to the summit of Pyramid Mountain. 

North Fork of Entiat River in the Chelan Mountains

Multiple trails lead across and through the Chelan Mountains.  Dropping down from the pass to walk along the creek we intersected with the North Fork Entiat River trail completing our four day loop.  We planned on stopping in Wenatchee for some food and continuing on to Salmon La Sac on the Cle Elum side of the mountains to drive into a pass near Ingalls Peak.  Salmon La Sac looked like an over run camping resort instead of the remote outpost and gateway into the Stuart Range it had once been.  Pushing on to avoid the crowds, the Jeep started losing power.  Not good.  Visions of turning our trip into an epic turned my mood south as I worried about getting back for school on Monday.  Turning around and limping back to Salmon La Sac in search of a place to camp we decided to crash at a trailhead and get an early start home in the morning.  Our maximum speed across the pass was about 35.  A clogged catalytic converter on Woody’s Jeep prevented us from going any faster.   Six hours later and most of the backroads between Cle Elum and Arlington found us safely at home.  Excellent trip.  Great scramble buddies.  Lots of fun.