Vesper Peak — Wednesday, Jul. 4, 2007

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

It was a beautiful day for a hike and we got an early start for the Mtn. Loop highway headed for Vesper Peak There were only two cars at the trailhead and we started off by 8:40am. The first creek ford is no big deal-better on the lower and wider log than the two parallel ones downstream. We lost the trail at the big river ford however and since the bridge was out it was unclear which way to go. We unfortunately decided not to cross the river as it looked like a difficult ford so we followed the trail to the left a ways up the drainage below lewis peak. it was very overgrown and we lost the trail on the boulders. We realized we had made an error and backtracked to the river ford. We did the ford and it is doable but requires scrambling on wet rocks and logs and does demonstrate a considerable amount of danger. the trail is overgrown at times with alot of ferns obscuring your vision and it is easy to step off the trail on this steep hillside ascent. There was still alot of snow in the hanging meadow and we decided to go on up to headlee pass. The chute just below the pass for about approx 500 ft. of elevation is very steep, narrow and completely packed with snow. an ice axe is definetely recommended and even with that is not for the faint of heart!! It was only partially in the sun and on the descent (which consisted mostly of downclimbing facing the mtn.) the steps were at times difficult to kick in. We lunched at headlee pass and it took a long time to do the descent described above very methodically and then it was a fun glissade for the lower part of the basin and the descent out. The river water level was even higher on the way out with all the snow melt from the day's continuous sun and the ford was even more exciting due to it!! We had to get back for 4th of july plans so opted out of the climb to the peak but one of the guys we met just as we made it to the pass had started early and made it to the peak and was on his way down skiing. he said that the ascent from headlee pass to the summit wasn't even as quarter as challenging as ""that nasty chute"" it was a beautiful day!!