Trip Date: October 10-12, 2019
GOLDEN LARCH OUTING: CHIWAUKUM MOUNTAINS
Big Jim Mountain Climbing Trip
Badlands Junction
Cabin Creek Ridge Junction
Lake Augusta
Big Jim Mountain (7763′)
Augusta Pass
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Chiwaukum Mountains
Area: Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Starting & Ending Point: Hatchery Creek Trailhead on Hatchery Creek Road (Elev. 2800 feet)
Way Points: Badlands Junction & Upper Fall Creek & Cabin Creek Ridge Junction & Upper Cabin Creek & Lake Augusta (trail hike & snow hike)
Campsites: Lake Augusta & Badlands Junction
Summit: Big Jim Mountain (off-trail hike via Southeast Ridge; descent via Southwest Ridge—Augusta Pass Trail)
Approximate Stats: 17.3 miles traveled; 6200 feet gained & lost.
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Big Jim Mountain via Southwest Ridge – September 2000
Full Trip Report
During a brief spell of good weather, Eileen and I backpacked into the Chiwaukum Mountains hoping to catch-and-release some golden larches. These coveted trees have been a bit elusive this year for some climatic reason. We did manage to see a few nice golden specimens at Lake Augusta, but many larches were merely pale green or straw-yellow.
Day 1: Trailhead to Lake Augusta
We donned our blaze-orange hats and headed up the Hatchery Creek Trail shortly after noon on a sunny Thursday. This trail starts with a switchbacking ascent through an old burn, passing over a dozen or so fallen logs before reaching Badlands Junction at a high shoulder (2.6 hours + 2700 feet from TH). There was about 2 inches of patchy snow here, and a set of footprints going in our direction.
We continued hiking southwestward around the head of Fall Creek to another junction on Cabin Creek Ridge, then followed the Icicle Ridge Trail toward Lake Augusta. The last rays of sun were now casting a soft light over Cannon Mountain and Cashmere Mountain on the southern horizon.
The footsteps we’d been tracking eventually veered off to the left in the direction of Big Lou Mountain. Eileen and I stayed on the trail and arrived at Lake Augusta about 45 minutes after dark (6.4 hours + 4650 feet from TH), aided by the light of a nearly full moon. We pitched our tent near the shore, which had about 4 inches of snow.
Day 2 (AM): Big Jim Mtn. Summit Climb
Following a calm, starry, cold night, we awoke to blue skies and a warm sun. Golden and not-so-golden larches surrounding the lake reflected off the glassy water surface.
From camp, we hiked up talus and snow slopes to the southeast ridge of Big Jim Mountain. Lake Augusta is particularly photogenic from this vantage.
The summit of Big Jim Mountain was an easy stroll along the broad crest. We topped out in mid morning (1.4 hours + 1000 feet from camp) and took in the excellent views on this unusually calm day.
We added a bit of variety to our descent by traversing the southwest ridge over two rocky humps (both Class 2-3), dropping to Augusta Pass, and then following the trail back to Lake Augusta.
The afternoon had warmed up nicely by the time we reached our campsite (1.7 hours + 150 feet from summit), and the lake surface was still perfectly smooth.
Day 2 (PM): Lake Augusta to Badlands Junction
Having a few hours of daylight remaining, we elected to move our camp back to Badlands Junction. There is no water at the junction, so we filled up water bottles where the trail crosses over a high branch of Fall Creek. We reached Badlands Junction just before sunset (3.2 hours + 400 feet from lake) and pitched our tent amid the burned trees. It was an uninspiring but functional campsite.
Day 3: Badlands Junction to Trailhead
The night was again cold and clear, but high clouds were drifting over by morning. We hiked back down the trail, passing two hunters (and feeling good about our blaze-orange hats!) before reaching the trailhead in late morning (2.0 hours from junction).
Route Map & Profile
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Photo Gallery
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