Trip Date: September 30 – October 3, 2006

GOLDEN LARCH OUTING:  PASAYTEN MOUNTAINS

Shellrock Basin Climbing Trip

Slate Pass
Pasayten River
Fred’s Lake
Rolo Pass
Shellrock Basin
Mount Lago (8745 ft)
Mount Carru (8595 ft)
Shellrock Pass
Blackcap Mountain (8397 ft)

Trip Report Summary

Region: Northeastern Washington Cascades

Sub-Region: Pasayten Mountains

Area: Pasayten Wilderness

Starting & Ending Point: Buckskin Ridge Trailhead on Slate Peak Road #54-600 (Elev. 6900 feet)

Way Points: Slate Pass & Middle Fork Pasayten River & Fred’s Lake & Rolo Pass & Eureka Creek & Shellrock Basin (trail hike)

Campsites: Fred’s Lake & Shellrock Basin & Middle Fork Pasayten River Flats

Summit: Mt. Lago (rock scramble via South Slope—South Face; descent via Southwest Slope)

Summit: Mt. Carru (rock scramble via Southeast Slope—Southeast Ridge)

Sidetrip: Shellrock Pass (trail hike)

Summit: Blackcap Mountain (rock scramble via Northeast Slope—Northeast Ridge)

Approximate Stats (including all sidetrips): 35 miles traveled; 13,300 feet gained & lost.

Related Posts

>>> Lost Peak + Pass Butte + Shellrock Basin + Pistol Pass – September 2010

>>> Osceola Peak + Mt. Rolo + Lake Doris via Rolo Pass – October 2005

Full Trip Report

This year’s Golden Larch Trip took me to Shellrock Basin with Kevin, Eileen, Steve, and Deborah. In defiance of the iffy forecast, the weather turned out to be quite nice: sunny and warm during the day, cold and mostly clear at night. The larch trees looked to be a week or two before their prime, but they still put on a beautiful color show for us.

Day 1: Trailhead to Fred’s Lake

From the Buckskin Ridge Trailhead near Slate Peak Lookout, we hiked over Slate Pass, down the West Fork Pasayten River, and then up to Fred’s Lake, where we made camp in late afternoon (5.1 hours from TH).

Day 2 (AM): Fred’s Lake to Shellrock Basin

On the morning of Day 2, we hiked up to Rolo Pass on the ridge crest overlooking Fred’s Lake.

While Steve went off to tuck in Osceola Peak, the rest of us continued down to Eureka Creek and then back up to scenic Shellrock Basin, where we established Camp 2 (2.6 hours from Camp 1). All trails were in good shape, and both campsites were very pleasant.

Day 2 (PM): Mt. Lago & Mt. Carru Summit Climbs

In the afternoon, Deborah took a sidetrip up to Shellrock Pass, whereas the rest of us headed up the south side of Mt Lago.  We spent 45 minutes on the wind-free summit, then descended to the Lago-Carru saddle.

Kevin and Steve and I scrambled up Mt Carru and got some nice sunset views before rejoining Eileen back at the Lago-Carru saddle.  Together, we descended in twilight and arrived back in camp after dark (7.2 hours RT from camp).  We were delighted to discover that Deborah had a crackling fire awaiting our return.

Day 3 (AM): Blackcap Mountain Summit Climb

Following a cold, clear night, we awoke to heavy frost. After breakfast, Steve, Eileen, Kevin, and I hiked up to Shellrock Pass for some morning views, then we traversed over to Blackcap Mtn for even better views.

The Class 2-3 scramble up Blackcap’s northeast ridge was pure alpine joy and, without a doubt, the highlight of our entire trip.  In addition, the abrupt geological transition onto the black hornfels “summit cap” was fascinating!

We were back in camp by early afternoon (5.1 hours RT from camp).  Lunch was taken, and camp was dismantled.

Day 3 (PM): Shellrock Basin to Pasayten River Flats

While Deborah and Kevin got a jump start on the hike out, Eileen and Steve and I took an ambling pace back over Rolo Pass and down to the Pasayten River. An hour after dark, we found Kevin and Deborah several miles up-river at a comfortable riverside campsite (5.3 hours from Camp 2) with another welcome fire going.

Day 4: Pasayten River Flats to Trailhead

We finished our hike back over Slate Pass to our awaiting vehicle and snacks (2.9 hours from Camp 3). This would have been a pretty uneventful morning if not for the fact that Kevin and Steve were soon racing full-tilt back down the trail several miles to help find an overdue backpacker. They returned an hour or two later with the backpacker in tow, safe and sound. This proved to be a happy finale to another great Golden Larch Trip!

Route Map

Photo Gallery

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