Trip Date: August 5-6, 2006
Big Heart Summit Loop: Camp Robber Peak to Tourmaline Peak to Atrium Peak
West Fork Foss River
Trout Lake
Copper Lake
Little Heart Lake
Big Heart Lake
Camp Robber Peak (6286 ft)
Tourmaline Peak (6245 ft)
Atrium Peak (5359 ft)
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Miller–Foss Mountains
Area: Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Starting & Ending Point: West Fork Foss River Trailhead at end of West Fork Foss River Road #6835 (Elev. 1650 feet)
Way Points: West Fork Foss River & Trout Lake & Copper Lake & Little Heart Lake & Big Heart Lake outlet & North Camp Robber Ridge & Camp Robber Peak summit & East Camp Robber slope & CRT Saddle & Tourmaline Peak summit & Big Heart Tarns & Atrium Peak summit & Big Heart Lake outlet (trail hike & bushwhack & rock scramble)
Campsite: East Camp Robber Bench (Elev. 6100 feet)
Summit: Camp Robber Peak (rock scramble via Northeast Slope)
Summit: Tourmaline Peak (rock scramble via Northwest Slope)
Summit: Atrium Peak (off-trail hike via South Ridge; descent via North Ridge)
Approximate Stats: 20 miles traveled; 7300 feet gained & lost.
Full Trip Report
On a warm and sunny August weekend, Eileen and I did a loop around Big Heart Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Day 1: Trailhead to Camp Robber Peak
We started from West Fork Foss River Trailhead and hiked past several alpine lakes to reach Big Heart Lake. From the lake outlet, …
- Big Heart Lake Bay
… we headed southwest and worked our way above the lake’s northwestern bay (some unpleasant scrub cedar and one encounter with wasps), scrambled up through some cliff bands to the west, …
- Mt Hinman and Bears Breast Above Big Heart Lake
… and then traversed southward on heather, talus, and snow …
… to the summit of Camp Robber Peak.
- Eileen On Camp Robber Peak
Since it was late in the day, we camped on a little heather bench 150 feet below the summit. The views were wonderful, but the mosquitos were BAD! Thankfully, we’d brought a bug tent.
- High Camp On Camp Robber Peak
Day 2: Camp Robber Peak to Tourmaline Peak to Trailhead
In the morning, we dropped down several hundred feet to the CRT Saddle, then back up on talus and snow to the summit of Tourmaline Peak.
- Eileen On Tourmaline Peak
Although this summit is a bit lower than Camp Robber Peak, the views seem to be even better. We then descended to a saddle between Big Heart Lake and Angeline Lake…
- Mt Hinman and Bears Breast Mountain Above Angeline Lake
… at which point we picked up a footpath leading over the summit of Atrium Peak and down to the outlet of Big Heart Lake to close our loop.
It was a beautiful weekend in the mountains, and with the very hot weather, we took good advantage of the many lakes and tarns encountered along the way.
Route Map
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge…
