Downey Mountain, Downey Lake, Pilot Peak 7088' & Downey Creek — Friday, Jul. 31, 2020

It had been over a month since I cleaned this up to snow, thought it was time to return.

The Suiattle River road has been graded!  I must have driven it 50 times, always terrible.  There are so many great hikes up this road, I know where I'll be spending the next couple weeks.  Better road saves half an hour each way to here, even more for trails further out.

Take Downey Creek trail 2 miles to Downey Mountain trail heading up.  The junction is about 5 minutes past the creek with log crossing.  This creek is a good place to fill water, over an hour to next source.

Good and well marked trail leads to "Guinea Lake", the source of the first stream you come to.  Notice conditions worsen beyond first creek encounter, this was where I stopped fixing because of the snow.

At the lake, cross the outlet stream, pass nice campsite, follow orange flags I left today. There is a creek along the trail above the lake, dump out the lake water and refill.  There is a dry stretch beyond here, then plenty of melting snow higher up.

Path soon breaks out of the trees, to an amazing flower show.  After a long traverse trail is lost in knee-high flowers.  I found a path that angled up, not too much side-hilling.  I crossed a few soft enough snow fields, some rock.  

The route I took is flagged and cairned, leads to the top of the ridge.  I walked the crest to the 6500' ish near high point, incredible views of many peaks rarely seen.  It was kind of smoky today, I hope this doesn't go on all summer.

I could see Pilot Peak out on the ridge, map said I had to drop 500', then climb 1100', in 1 1/4 miles.  I didn't think I had enough time, Mike Collins said it took him 13 hours RT.  Turns out I might have, will come back soon and complete, when I'm not locating trail.  I can do it faster now that I know where to go.

First ascent was made from Cub Lake, ridge may be walkable a ways beyond Pilot Peak. Relatively easy walking despite not much of a trail along the ridge crest, few come up here.

On the way down I was surprised to see a fellow hiker, Eric, who was staying overnight.  Like me, he had seen this in the Cascade Alpine Guide, he had also seen my Reports about the work I had done here.  What were the chances I was here before him marking the way.  He thanked me, I urged him to write a Report about his trip.

Summitpost has a good write up for Pilot Peak, with some photos by Fay Pullen.  There is one Report here.  Ended up taking me 11 hours RT.  I'm going to do this again tomorrow, 8/2, if anyone wants to join me, say 8 AM at Downey Creek TH.  See you then.