Vesper Peak, Headlee Pass and Vesper Lake — Monday, Jul. 8, 2024

Forest road is short and while had some potholes, could make it fine going slow in my sedan.

Bugs were around, but 25% deet spray kept most at bay.

The third creek crossing previous reports warn about indeed was the deepest and fast flowing, both in the morning and afternoon. I just put on water shoes and waded through, water reaching right above knee deep. Reached the third creek crossing about 30 minutes in, so if you want to save time and want to definitely save your shoes from getting wet early on in the hike, can just start with hiking in water shoes/sandals/Chackos/etc till you pass the third creek. With a pole to brace myself, wasn’t that bad to go through and it’s a short distance, but very cold so be fast before get too numb. I’ve heard from other hikers if you really wanted, can find a drier path to walk through if you walk upwards from where the trail crosses.

Trail overall was scraggly, rocky, and rooty until get to snow. Definitely not manicured and could be hard to follow in some rocky sections. Made a mistake going “left” when I should’ve gone “right” towards Headlee Pass. The Pass has very short switchbacks and is steep and crumbly.

When reaching a stream that is the outlet of Vesper Lake (clean and fast moving drinking water source, a fine destination in of itself if you don’t want to go up to Vesper Peak), I followed some tracks in initially that led me closer to the lake, but it’s not what my AllTrails map and GPS was guiding, so doubled back to where the stream outlet was, crossed over, and ascended a little rib. Eventually will hit a patch of trees (I point it out in my pictures below) where it was difficult for me to find the trail. It wasn’t obvious, but it’s there. If you’re muscling too much through trees, you’re probably off. There looks to be another route to the right completely bypassing the tree patch I think some people took.

Snow all the way up to the base of the summit from Vesper Lake, of which the actual summit is snow free. Views are great.

Snow was mushy and soft, especially with the heat wave the PNW was experiencing (90+ degrees F in major cities). I wore microspikes which I “think” kinda helped, but not really. Had to scuff and kick in the snow to really get traction. Had my ice ax out as a just in case. Did not glissade down as wasn’t too comfortable with some very steep pitches up, but I think some people did. I just heel plunge stepped down.

Start: 825 AM

Headlee Pass top: 1050 AM

Vesper Peak: 100 PM

End: 420 PM

- I probably wasted an hour being lost and double backing at some points.