Trip Date: September 17-18, 2011

Big American Peak Climb

American Ridge Saddle
Big Basin
Big American Peak (6960’+)

Trip Report Summary

Region: Southern Washington Cascades

Sub-Region: Naches Mountains

Area: William O Douglas Wilderness

Starting & Ending Point: Mesatchee Creek Trailhead on Highway 410 (Elev. 3600 feet)

Way Points: Morse Creek & American River & Mesatchee Creek & American Ridge Saddle & American Ridge Trail junction & Big Basin (trail hike & off-trail hike); return via East Mesatchee Basin & Mesatchee Creek (off-trail hike & bushwhack & trail hike)

Campsite: Big Basin (Elev. 6100 feet)

Summit: Big American Peak (rock scramble via South Slope—Southwest Ridge)

Approximate Stats: 16 miles traveled; 4300 feet gained & lost.

Full Trip Report

Fay, Eileen, and I made a trip up American Ridge on a rainy weekend. We started at the Mesatchee Creek Trailhead and hiked up to a junction with American Ridge Trail, which we followed northeasterly until above Big Basin. We dropped off the ridge and set up a camp in pretty Big Basin (4.5 hours from TH).

After pitching tents, we scrambled up the 6960-foot high point of American Ridge, giving it the name “Big American Peak” (1.6 hours from camp). There is another point closely to the east that looks a few feet lower than this western point.

The following day, we hiked back up to the ridge crest and then took a cross-country descent through wet brush to intersect the Mesatchee Creek Trail farther down valley. This was entirely unpleasant but did save us a bit of time getting back to the trailhead (3.0 hours from camp).

Photo Gallery

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