Grabbing the two rain free days this week, I headed up to Walupt Lake to try Ives Peak. The forest road from Hwy 12 to the trailhead is longish (around 20 miles) but in excellent condition and well signed. I got to the trailhead at 11 am, plenty of parking. (Midweek and after Labor Day, there were lots of open campsites.)
The trail heads up immediately, sustained but not that steep. After 2 miles and 2000 feet things level out a bit. The trail is in very good shape, moderate up and down for 4 miles to Sheep Lake. Here it joins the PCT, with spectacular scenery up and over Cispus Pass and down to some nice campsites at a stream crossing and Cispus Basin.
I reached Cispus Basin at 3 pm, early enough that I headed up Cispus Basin towards Peak 7478. I reached the saddle to the east of Peak 7478 and was rewarded with a cool view of Ives and Old Snowy's "other" sides. Travel that way didn't look promising, so I headed up and over 7478, thinking I would bivy high up, which is something I enjoy, but in fact it was cold, windy, and goaty, so I dropped down into a sunny Basin and camped at an established spot for the night.
Next morning I retraced my steps back up to the saddle between 7478 and Ives, then worked my way along the saddle and up to the summit of Ives. From below I thought the bit before the summit looked rather intimidating, but in fact it was not too bad. Fairly stable blocks and scree, no exposure. The summit was comfortable with awesome views, but windy so I didn't stay long.
Coming down I worked around the southern side of 7478 then found a mellow way back down to the PCT. Heading back I had amazing views of Mt. Adams, reaching the car about 4.
Not that many people on the trail, fun to see the PCT through hikers heading north, enjoying a dry day! One thing to consider, I did meet some bow hunters on Nannies Ridge trail, they were friendly and not actively shooting anything when I was there, but if that's something you'd rather avoid, it is the season.
All in all a great hike and scramble!
Comments