Moose Mountain, Grand Pass & Peak 6701 — Friday, Sep. 22, 2006

Took the gift of a spectacular Indian summer day and headed to Obstruction Point for the Lillian Ridge traverse as described in the latest Olympic Mtn Climbers Guide. Where the trail from Obstruction veers east and down toward Grand Lake, headed south instead along the ridge crest, following the obvious way trail. Reached the sawtooth ridge leading from Point 6580 over toward the point north of Moose Mtn (6753 ft) and traversed it to the chute described in the Climbers Guide. Descended to the boot track and followed it up to Moose Mtn and superb views in every direction. All of the lakes in Grand Valley can be viewed by walking a couple hundred yards east of the summit. Headed back to the summit and then down the broad south ridge of the mountain to Low Pass (approx 5900 ft). Contoured along the ridge heading south, fought through the Alaska cedar thicket and made way up through the notch, past the snowmelt tarn in the basin just below Peak 6701, and then up to Peak 6701. Amazing views in all directions from this peak, including Rainier, Adams, Baker, the Needles, Deception, Mystery, Cameron, Cameron Basin, Mt. Anderson, Lillian Lake, Mt. Olympus, the Bailey Range and so on. Headed back down to Grand Pass and took the trail to the basin below Low Pass, climbed Low Pass, back up Moose Mtn., down toward the sawtooth ridge and then up it and back along Lillian Ridge to Obstuction Point. Lots of fall color along the way, thanks to the cold spell we had recently. With all the ups and downs of this route, total elevation gain for the day was about 6100 ft, RT about 10.5 miles.