Lost Creek Ridge #646,Pacific Crest (Glacier Peak) #2000,Red Mountain #651
Aug 30, 2008
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Lost Creek Ridge
- Region: North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
- Trails: Lost Creek Ridge (#646)
- Avg Rating: 4.50
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Red Mountain
- Region: North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
- Trails: Red Mountain (#651)
- Avg Rating: 3.00
- Be Aware Of
- Blowdowns
- Bridge out
- Clogged drainage
- Mud/Rockslide
- Washouts
- Water on trail
- Overgrown
- Snow on trail
We set out to do the Lost Creek Ridge, Lake Byrne, Kennedy Hot Springs, Red Pass loop last week in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. We started by climbing up Lost Creek Ridge (a monster of a climb). Although the snow and hundreds of downed trees were challenging, the one barrier that almost ended our trip was crossing the White Chuck River below Lake Byrne. For those of you brave enough to try, here is how we did it (and the only way that doesn't involve a dangerous swim). The trail vanishes when it hits the White Chuck. Head 500 yards upstream on the White Chuck. You will see a 200 foot long tree that it is about 20 feet above the river. We climbed up on the tree and ""shimmied"" across the tree to the other side-carefully. After getting off the tree, we went upstream about 300 yards towards the huge landslide. About 50 yards before the landslide on the bank under a tree, we found the Kennedy Hot Springs toilet. Since we knew that the trail to Fire Creek Pass and the old trail to Red Pass had to be directly above us, we went straight uphill from the toilet to the top of the ridge. The climb was very steep on slick moss, dirt and rock. At the top of the ridge (1200 feet or so above the river) we hit the trail. The trail went left to Fire Creek Pass and right towards Red Pass and the PCT. We headed off towards the PCT which we eventually found. Due to the floods, this loop is certainly one of the most challenging trips in the NW. If you choose to try this loop, you must bring maps and your route finding skills. We did the loop in 4 days (and never saw the sun).
Document Actions
- Email this page
- Print this
- Share
White Chuck River crossing
There are blowdowns along Lost Ck Ridge #646 and White Chuck R #643 trails, but not "hundreds", and I removed everything that one person with a 7" saw can. I'd say two dozen blowdown remain between Lake Byrne and White Chuck R., many just walkovers, and the worst is right at the river (might obscure start of trail if going uphill; look for cairns at riverbank).
I found at least 3 log crossings over the White Chuck R just above the Kennedy/White Chuck confluence. The one I used was maybe 40-50' long, 7' above the river (Sept. low water), 2+' diameter, level, smooth, easy to find, cairned. Definitely not 200' long nor 20' above the water. An easy shinny with a pack (unbuckle your straps!). I walked it upright unloaded, and my small dog seemed unconcerned (I did belay her). IF you have basic log-crossing skills, this is not a big deal -- although a fall here could be fatal, there's strong current.
I'd say it was "a couple hundred yards" upstream of Trail #646, and only "about 100 yards" upstream of the confluence. The key: cross the White Chuck just UPSTREAM of the confluence. Pick up White Chuck Tr #643 right there at the confluence. It's easy. Do NOT cross the White Chuck DOWNSTREAM of Kennedy Creek. If you want to go to Red Pass, forget all about the trail to Fire Creek Pass; take White Chuck R TR#643.
On the east bank, look to the bank overlooking the confluence; you'll see a cairn, also an old signboard fallen-over. I found flagging and stakes for the short trail re-route (work not started yet). Bushwhack straight up the slope, maybe switchback leftwards in easy brush. You'll meet the White Chuck R Trail #643 within 30-40 yards, you can't miss it.
I don't understand David in Manhattan's report. Conceivably, Lost Ck Ridge Tr#646 splits just before it reaches the White Chuck, and he took a leftward path I didn't see that reaches the river further downstream; then perhaps he crossed the White Chuck DOWNSTREAM of the Kennedy confluence, a big mistake if you want to go to Red Pass on Tr#643. He writes, "After getting off the tree, we went upstream about 300 yards towards the huge landslide". I think I recall seeing a huge landslide on the (N?) bank of KENNEDY Creek. Perhaps he was scaling this steep bank 1200 feet to the PCT itself (not to White Chuck R Tr#643)?
But if he went "Head 500 yards upstream on the White Chuck" and then another "upstream about 300 yards towards the huge landslide", that would put him far upstream of the confluence, and he scaled 1200 feet to Tr#643 when he could have picked it up in 30 yds right at the confluence. And Tr#643 does not go "left to Fire Creek Pass..." -- it goes left directly back down to the confluence of Kennedy Ck & White Chuck R.
I think he crossed DOWNSTREAM of the confluence and missed White Chuck R Tr#643 altogether.