Reynolds Peak Climbing Trip
Williams Lake
Williams Pass
War Creek Ridge
Reynolds Peak (8512’)
Trip Report Summary
Region: North-Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Sawtooth Mountains
Area: Lake Chelan – Sawtooth Wilderness
Starting & Ending Point: Williams Creek Trailhead on West Twisp River Road #4430 (Elev. 2800 feet)
Way Points: Williams Creek & Williams Lake & Williams Pass & War Creek Ridge saddle (trail hike & off-trail hike & snow hike)
Campsite: War Creek Ridge saddle
Sidetrip: Point 7225 & South Reynolds Creek Basin (off-trail hike & rock scramble & snow climb)
Summit: Reynolds Peak (snow climb & rock scramble via Southeast Slope—East Ridge)
Approximate Stats: 24 miles traveled; 8300 feet gained & lost.
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Purple Mountain Loop + Reynolds Peak + Boulder Butte – September 13-15, 2002
Full Trip Report
When deteriorating weather shut down our plans for a west-side climb, Eileen, Lisa, Kevin K, Doug S, and I chose Reynolds Peak as an east-side alternative. Reynolds is not the highest peak in the Chelan Sawtooth Mountains, but it is by far the most visually impressive. I had previously climbed Reynolds Peak from Stehekin, via Boulder Creek, and found that to be a very pleasant approach route. This time, we started at the Twisp River and hiked in via Williams Creek and War Creek Ridge. Both approaches involve a similar distance and elevation gain, but I would say that the Williams/War route is far more interesting and scenic.
Day 1: Trailhead to War Creek Ridge Saddle
It was warm and partly sunny when we started up the Williams Creek Trail on Thursday morning. After a short distance, we passed a four-person WTA crew doing maintenance on the trail. The dozen or more fallen logs that we circumvented over the next 7 miles confirmed that this trail does need some maintenance. Fortunately, we did not encounter snow until within a mile of Williams Lake, which sits in a pretty little larch bowl at 6500 feet (4.7 hours from TH). Surprisingly, the lake was already 95% snow-free. Our route to “Williams Pass” on War Creek Ridge was clearly visible from the lake shore.
- Williams Lake & Williams Pass
- Williams Lake From Upper Slopes
- Rest Stop At Williams Pass
- Camels Hump and Reynolds Peak From Williams Pass
From the pass, we made a descending traverse to a 6950-foot saddle in War Creek Ridge, immediately southwest of Williams Butte. Despite a 4-foot snowpack on the crest, there were numerous pockets of bare ground that offered us a good campsite (7.1 hours + 4500 feet from TH) amid the pines and larches.
- Camp On Ridge Crest
Day 2 (AM): Reynolds Peak Summit Climb
- Camels Hump From Ridge Crest
- Descending To South Reynolds Basin
- Contouring Around South Reynolds Basin
- Traversing Above South Reynolds Basin
- Eileen Heading To Reynolds Peak
- Doug, Lisa, and Kevin On East Ridge
- Doug, Eileen, Lisa, and Kevin On Summit
Day 2 (PM): War Creek Ridge Saddle to Trailhead
- Descending To Williams Lake
It rained intermittently as we hiked down the Williams Creek Trail, but this was inconsequential and soon forgotten when we discovered that the WTA crew had cut out most of the fallen logs that we’d passed the previous day. Thanks WTA! We reached the cars at 7:30pm (4.9 hours from camp) to end a fine Sawtooth outing.
Photo Gallery
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