Quick-and-dirty version
Access: Monte Cristo Trailhead @ Barlow Pass
Round Trip: 13.8 miles
Elevation Range: 2321'-5683′
Essential Gear: helmet, microspikes
Dog-Friendly: no
A reconnaissance outing to Weden Pass, south of Weden Lake Basin. It's been 11 years since visiting Foggy Lake in Gothic Basin.
THE ROAD: A smooth-sailing and quiet drive from Granite Falls to Barlow Pass. The only things missing since the dog and I visited two months earlier during the high season were the cars.
THE TRAIL: Zero debris and steeper than I remembered. I read that there used to be a spur off the main trail that went to Weden Lake. An old report noted a visible fork around 4200', but the path was no longer viable in getting into the lake basin.
- Muddy areas were mainly around the wooden walkways in the lower trail
- Increasingly rocky from the first water gully at mile 3.25 (3700') onward.
THE WATER: Plentiful.
- The first stream appeared past the first mile mark shortly after taking the Weden Creek Trail.
- Three more streams that followed were evenly spaced out along the flat trail, including the creek at the mile 2 clearing
- The next water wasn't until mile 3.25 in the first water gully
- More streams beyond the fifth water gully and up into the lake basin
My Route
- Hike 4.5 miles to the first pond below Foggy Lake, and continue west on one of several flagged trails to the second, smaller pool.
- Cross the outlet over Weden Creek to the end of the path before going cross-country.
- Traverse south between 4800' and 5200' through steep taluses and heather for a tad over a mile to Weden Pass at 5120'.
- From the south side, traverse west-southwest to the saddle between the middle and the north peaks of Sheep Gap Mountain.
- Climb the middle peak via the northeast ridge and return to Weden Pass.
- Climb the north peak via the east ridge and return to Gothic Basin to hike out.
Highlights
- Expansive vistas of Morning Star Natural Resources Conservation Area, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Wild Sky Wilderness, and Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
- The impressive main peak of Sheep Gap Mountain, Del Campo Peak, Gothic Peak, and Silver Tip Peak
- Late morning sunshine and solitude
Lowlights
- Morning fog lasted past 10 AM despite the sunny forecast
Comments