Up until yesterday I'd never had that perfect Pasayten trip (
snow in May,
snow in June,
record-setting heat in June,
downpour in October, etc.). I remember planning the trip with Graham and Paul in 2014 and Graham remarking, "It's the Pasayten...something always happens."
With those experiences in mind, I planned to backpack out to
Sheep Mountain and then stay in Whistler Basin, hiking out the following morning. I figured there would be hundreds of blowdowns and the other usual issues that create longer-than-planned trips. Unfortunately, things went a little too well and I summited Sheep in 6:35 from the car, arriving in Whistler Basin just before 5pm. With five hours of daylight left I had no idea what to do, so I just hiked out, finishing at 9:45pm, about two minutes shy of needing my headlamp.
After being gone all last weekend, a certain kiddo was very happy to have me home earlier than planned.
Hiking 40 miles with a full backpacking set up that went unused felt pretty lame, but the day was truly amazing and I think this is my new favorite area in the Pasayten...
- Billy Goat trail: cleared to Drake Creek.
- Larch Creek - Larch Pass: one large microburst of trees passable off trail; ~100 (?) blowdowns w/the majority being step overs, some crawl unders and climb overs.
- Northern trails (McCall Gulch, Whistler Basin, Peeve Pass): some patchy snow though none present any real difficulties; everything in great shape and very lush.
Shout out to Gary and Otto; it was very nice chatting with you and I hope you had a good time on the rest of your trip!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSx12rmLl54MSEiRpttzgeqv24qeH1V64BElJeVXVZAYIoui_TRyD1PxlH0aODNpfi_diTp5XGPWSwAp1WrBUpgxv7UfZx36IpDmsEHnbhWjmqu4YBcyDiR-J6v_HbJq7JU886DnbGYAJs/s400/IMG_3635.JPG) |
Training weight...ugh... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAwYc5sZQn_A1EPz2Dv82RwmOArrx28R45a0HYJF5Mbv2ye3BTk0SiLj8iIztptMnD7XMnm5Trrf5mNo5YlUwelTG84TflJjbz_9Y72nr0iHlPhwIOfgOPwnF4_CE6Empc1cws06iFFsG/s400/P7026314.jpg) |
Weekly dose of Wilderness |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8S4sbdlohEHwIAWa7HO-vhMCYaUP1nF-H5N2t39O083O6kcYH2zycMM0CStjNPVC2GcF5zz0ijQomgXmdRwkBRuVTxqZ3Zii9PGSIWgR5UYUmkaQ8BUGX_0SwsnDgNUxNHQMYQxr3TCS2/s400/P7026322.jpg) |
Many Trails Peak over Diamond Creek and Lost River |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFEmqUiTqSepo-SnJb6wxOi6t0gLfBRnMj7eLXh-dxnOeO4i0jqiHBq6C8Kw67KJzivQJto_pAe2XhNtOXpBreG3iSMlF9UF_Y93HxTaE2JyhXtzM5yZB6FoTAQcnF_SyKhyqz9jnxE8k/s400/P7026323.jpg) |
Go high for the first group and low for the second, which is a quite big grouping |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGdHm1vw5kVIYsJD4-BMol-uhx6IwgYxECnF31hdst9nX210zX2xgrDqbNDtd0Z1UZez6Oh-BT2rfmyQPRmrmfX1O1cHlyecG0Z5j57smfbE1CKyJhlU0FyKf2ywJAiKGQ9LoMVh9oHWZ/s400/P7026326.jpg) |
Larch Creek drainage with Larch Pass |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdgxbPMQpZNx_g0vm5cByT8z1NVpj4DuYpqrNE8qnRSsQpCETtEZ_BieKSKcO9gAfOVDnjvjWKQyMU363HwkF-Ja3YApiFrFPLcnETrxkbSybYP4IeG1QqS8B6n6gKbkX_dooEPxUVok-/s400/P7026338.jpg) |
East Fork Pasayten River drainage; beetle kill? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjGsb3mBD_BKcGK426qAOy7BjRny00gaMsueG6AVE8hpIzYpxSMsyMLUiD5Gbd-D-BTzZqIcOq_GNB7L2-7cEDhnAFZKpXBSt-kuZT9teChPWYa6kVC14EqhkjVAszTtsrRejY8rTqBba/s400/P7026344s.jpg) |
McCall Gulch basin with Two Point Mountain |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVbStklk9JgtJlJOE1dMFwr6XcV7e_Oav7o5gEI1zPj_kd1QG7qrwo4lHyn9pMn2t-mZ2SjURV8-OV0tNEYbZ4Nz89xHQL5BoShTBE8U9q1ol6zMy4AxhxvUMzG9y6huvfxujmVC53KiU/s400/P7026347.jpg) |
The northern Pasayten is in bloom |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSP9LE-Ab4hs838r7XJeLR8Ji63FjcaYyr0LB5ixMc7tChFJnDFURFtC_PkN2EuapYijUhII_A4G9qBDR_Pym06ieCJ5eKzyoN1F68XFgMBS8TARbd4R4Ul5vy7ohOwl97dH36mlqCscX/s400/P7026353s.jpg) |
Corral Lake |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAB0c-37vliJEex37FQHE8eqKZWPyxplMgWx8xauh__j_GIaFcVVS03ljMAkZQy-w1Dlxoc73wL8OzIHOkyT5t3ZxDCc2-OiAHtYyVkUehl-IXrAsx5hWy1m4GdX78FBXUOurHN-DuWbA/s400/P7026361.jpg) |
First full view of Sheep Mountain, from above the Timber Wolf Creek drainage |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVycb5ceSJXNfefhm3muPiWl8yVVkkmGdtUjeV48ub5PMHr3sH4wUSGvd256-beNh54opcrm70_pOSWQSmADXKN6HJuklmjKg-iTNjyRf2w7ZCtAkuHGKdJ_6nS3ko9fHxC_6q250CsRTw/s400/P7026370s.jpg) |
Looking back toward the pass above McCall Gulch (where the previous photo was taken from) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-m92x7wg5nwW4Jtt3cI0fNzNLC4QDhAEx8W5Dm7flCKkXuFusD1mtRjkX4y11-iklEKy9kTdF9EbdqYMe5vhdnR0DCc01USkCkIc2_k2CzWvVgtemuzDt8vFE-vd8gYMBt_KhRysCQZ2/s400/P7026381.jpg) |
South slopes of Sheep Mountain in bloom |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiow0nSC8CnoeEe0K3EFMlsM-Ok_WvFAviy_ol83JpKdUPEs6ajW-5bUPJK7qKasSM0JdG1j1X76Nbha3jgglbhj9K9GRH4Y1PYlfp2X6xGcrOjiAZwxuMHXBT-lQK3UHDmgAucIfvZg_/s400/P7026384.jpg) |
South side of Sheep Mountain, from 7300' |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bYJ7J7jnrUBJA-dB7p22rbK3nAog-o3_V2L_hsksEzjb7C4NObCOBOVP6htFeKDOEqP8Cq3q160An5UpT0fGIcG-zfGmLl0iuCOnaR3k8ofxQ16iL8kQ3f2vcvZdE_I-ntWYmmQn8QuR/s400/P7026385.jpg) |
Buck and doe on Sheep Mountain |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17-EULqtReMq1O8gt5b9DJCFs0AKldZVnLS31ucg-Ie68PuXoCy360zUThd45NZ-rxkAwWZ0PG9tzg_Dfjxy8qAVud6xHh4MoZIZn0c0NBPJAPnLBiQC0RZPrb_TcB-btQPmvlEg8TG9I/s400/P7026387.jpg) |
Two bucks on Sheep Mountain |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3q86dW4gcQR4G8lrhb5gTIm5xcjbLfd5bsTS6zrcwMqBQEDhTUhf1-DYYVrNAhvZ4GJvViVQclTsDc8SFooYHSNI_gTMFolvrfJkVG2pLJr5WI2uVX1bPueJDwNKMY9rxuX-pLRyUQqpH/s400/P7026391.jpg) |
Upper slopes of Sheep Mountain, ~200' of easy talus |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoKq0pvdwRqDd4F1gMoFhotvwE5imrMdzcVRfbfndbzCLjBCAgdlOoCxToPMh3yDS6j8CbP_dBWUKGtPR0KZkFKZ_rb74ZhIhuKBm598NwiLvQ_HuY1PiDO4PMLSGjD1oUwV3s2ASHLsC/s400/P7026396s.jpg) |
Looking east from Sheep Mountain: Cathedral Peak and Pass, Amphitheater Mountain, Windy Peak, Remmel Mountain |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Vb6yHLFsVbpFTl-VOnQ8gytr7qrS_6uDIxcI9Un2lMdhHpveUT6MW5pA1tpWPmU8rRbGw8kkQ6rwyiL0JhxJMZCLV1HAFEnAt71Z7apktsMkvdFqXfHx8GTYj5B6QdJ1KKE0orQ8KCr9/s400/P7026398s.jpg) |
South (left) to west, from Sheep Mountain |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FrhA3SrFhjbl-q_3Se6Vb1OKKeOvc7PNYHkJKdCI9sWIbXCcB5A_EzS_tZNtheK3TYoEreCiqtyeZCyLtIUP_xuCcetC9zaXLlA9IbYLxEJr-vzSWwp6ayVcUpggMMceunXb0D6Q-7uB/s400/P7026417.jpg) |
Ramon Lakes on the north side of Sheep Mountain |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig63XY2wkxP_8rTzRxyrwF-UkqFHhbsSJj4pbOFeWJP01m-Ozhq4nI06te_uxo8xGjcTgWe2W3At_utMpIxuVeL6WfxD8GSDuCrInCpIBoY0aDJ61qV8KDpuy2G00XbqUYla73gR5cn2eL/s400/P7026422s.jpg) |
Jack Mountain (r), Ptarmigan Peak (l) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0xgwatiAtUkMFm9hSj-COuLMvyf8MxGmO7sGD0bpuXPpTpmxv_RvHZ9R_IPTdHeoijzrwU1rvyHBSnRRVexlSxJIAlXLErudMRRM6Z3cNWK6jgK90vA48aEf4iXcmAAgNJJFs4lOBIiZ/s400/P7026426s.jpg) |
Sheep Lake and the eastern Pasayten |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcAJFgGrnKnaARvMQGDN2QGL9bbquAIfoXzz43T_6oeXsZanP0HbfEiWcXapOqmsCq9iCD1NFv7ZU6k08c1LUkF5EnXvZPbP_tIuTGZNHEz78-adbadQpPUfBycq5WyFVmbBxMvTo4PYY/s400/P7026439.jpg) |
Bear tracks at Peeve Pass |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeZ3ogdYymk0iiQm70MMaYASQk6QJsSFWy58BuKoWdmKzNfYLLG-rd3U2ChyBB0hxgShzisR3khNR8jnMPHuXa5GkixFoZBG-3H7EZ3NHyourotwwhyolQirhE9fuP1GP0TYnyKLjF2JV/s400/P7026445s.jpg) |
Sand Ridge, dividing Timber Wolf Creek and Mayo / Whistler Creek drainages |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqdcvpgK3zo-KXNPjfj8hTjy738FBIPEIzZqc5RSuSzRII83qhg27NrenqJymLx9alkBqWWt7Oi4NKQP9KI-icxDDGcxMxZfXSBjPb5ncgt6UFCW5zJlPlghIb4uyGMJKOhGwo6q32DDZ/s400/P7026457s.jpg) |
Whistler Basin |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5oYRootai6dwlecBknd6XOc0KQ_dVuLOTd_SY6TuXIh9f9HQ32hALWEDCtCB8K8roXKQQTbMkRRVLIaWmqj9Tz9anvMh6LGU9BY71Om8jPj250UFiC9m-RP1sLz4N_SCuimfF5SEQt_8/s400/P7026462.jpg) |
Whistler Basin and Ashnola Mountain |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKxrkIQQ-wJqq0LPBIV8i_yTKdawmzUqLDqDkckptklYmJPkXJCoyO5DBXmEPYUoyZ01fg_XNKLUgRyNd7-bAuFI7Y4P_vI1vu6v0KnHJ5l-cy4_flB_TvqdfC3fPWj2SwRp1lPGXD1L0/s400/P7026468.jpg) |
Trail to Whistler Pass |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNviMxRqIIHtOJVk36DY4BKzoZzdSSGDVkG-AEKM6vRxaHqAe1AU0U9cj8mZ_Y-yOlbpgSS5lC_rqeN_fE7fnycHECp0WcjqpxhWwXPRJxmzd_SOB6NA_Fm4SBpJphzcbFf6hYdKy4IoV2/s400/P7026473.jpg) |
Glacier Lily |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPG9w6U8HDUWUwnmlpAsOhEQjCjwNdw-bLuwQ1-RsVFTL0F0gH7ROQN9eGws21TT0A2GDUEFfD-4zX3GBZI3nj7nKGNzajmIVWOWgj-n3Wwv7UwPra7AjgUxltZEXm04gxKBrA7HvSMT5W/s400/P7026474s.jpg) |
Whistler Basin |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEH_lNqje4O-R0nHYiomKWWpmK11buN_y4LuRfXeKWKRmUrPik-1jcdUmlOL6SbsvzPJzpKFFXimt8wGtC0K_SWwqkoRIiarn3u5EEqiaJS0ykPSU9hBGuU4b5M98cZWyxL_jW41RmP82/s400/P7026481s.jpg) |
McCall Gulch basin, Larch Pass from Whistler Pass |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujyVJ67O_Mf7nujoGLWg649pdoI54cgp6IeNuB8CrpXWMDVxZw65-MI_w62ibSuYbuncowzXs_Yg2QpFEc2e6vn-jD6W6ndnKEadtoeHfaNNs7c9DY39cKo7DVgbLUZooqwsdkX-iGfEw/s400/P7026488s.jpg) |
Looking back at Whistler Pass over McCall Gulch |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchbxDtSg0J7MtInOcIaSC_UoViKs706ek694o8D44VZdbMAEGwCtCZIlArKmZYqFEqGPsfuwleCgELdJJZZMbn9l7kHdxwGGhKVHync83fB38SchyphenhyphenvebymxTRC3-KR8Oh75wF0YUBEZzf/s400/P7026500.jpg) |
Setting sun from Billy Goat Pass, looking north |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBgz06YJALFilfQtjAFktD8Fl3NccmzOMvaC5_WEF87zFMwRw3OJgfN1YIfiQgQCFKfmMymfXzdiMEh7vnWfvWGHqXmyPQVAJk5kUwv2q2ntTmek72etb39nss9FR22EyyJUjuBrfIFoW/s400/P7026503.jpg) |
Just about back to the car; looking south from the Billy Goat Pass trail |
Good job, Luke. I think I did a 90km loop here last year
ReplyDeleteLooks great! Any significant creek crossings?
ReplyDeleteHey Bryan, not anything significant. Couple ones to rock hop or use a log and I think one that required half rock hopping and half ankle deep water, but that's it!
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