Last weekend was so good that another Sunday weather window had me craving more of the same. The Spider Gap-Buck Creek Pass loop is another Washington classic, whether done as a backpack or a long day run, it is phenomenal.
We took one wrong turn up on Middle Ridge, but got to see a beautiful basin at the top and the bushwhack down was actually quite manageable, not losing too much time. We still were able to finish before dark and thank goodness the
59er Diner is open late. I feel like I've had my fill of the Chiwawa River Road for the rest of the year though...
Thanks to
Ethan for coming along and putting up with me taking 200+ pictures!
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| Lower Phelps Creek trail |
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| Upper Spider Meadow, headed toward the turn off for Spider Gap (above-left of Ethan) |
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| Looking down at Spider Meadows |
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| Steep climb up |
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| Larch knob before Spider Glacier |
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| Spider Glacier with 2-3" of recent snow |
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| Cold and windy at Spider Gap, 7,100' |
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| Descending north from Spider Gap |
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| Ethan heading down toward Lyman Lakes, with Cloudy Pass, eastern half of Plummer and Sitting Bull mountains |
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| Sitting Bull, Dome, and Sinister above Cloudy Pass |
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| Bonanza Peak 9,511' in the clouds, highest non-volcanic summit in Washington |
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| Ethan and Bonanza, descending to Lower Lyman Lake |
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| Above Lower Lyman |
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| Lower Lyman and the north ridge of Chiwawa Mountain |
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| Looking back at Chiwawa, Lyman Lakes, Spider Gap just in the clouds, and Dumbell Mountain |
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| Zoom of Lyman Lakes, the glacier and descent from Spider Gap |
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| Plummer Mountain and Sitting Bull |
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| Ethan with Sitting Bull, Dome, Sinister and Gunsight |
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| Sinister, Gunsight and Agnes (Saddle Bow in foreground) |
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| Hiker shortcut to Suiattle Pass |
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| Plummer Mountain and Miners Ridge |
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| Looking west to Glacier Peak, from before Buck Creek Pass |
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| Approaching Buck Creek Pass; "only" a little over ten miles down to the trailhead |
Love all the fall colors. Makes it a totally different run than the traditional summer outing.
ReplyDeleteYOU ARE MAKING ME MISS RUNNING
ReplyDeleteHey Luke, congrats on the circumnavigation of Glacier - very inspiring. I've been looking at doing the Spider Gap-Buck Creek Pass Loop recently and would love any advice you have on running it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nick! My only thoughts would be to park at Buck Creek TH (Trinity) and go counterclockwise. Otherwise everything is pretty straightforward! Just make sure and check the weather/wind in relation to the Wolverine Fire to avoid smoke (if possible). Have a great time!
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