Trip Date: July 4-6, 2007

Blum–Hagan Traverse:  Blum Lakes to Hidden Lake

Baker River Bridge
Blum Lakes
Mount Blum (7680′)
Hagan Glacier
Mount Hagan aka Hagan Mountain (7080’+)
Lake 5360 aka South Hagan Tarn
Lake 4556 aka Hidden Lake

Trip Report Summary

Region: Northwestern Washington Cascades

Sub-Region: Lower Skagit Mountains

Area: North Cascades National Park

Starting Point: Baker River Trailhead at end of Baker Lake Road (Elev. 800 feet)

Way Points for Aborted Traverse: Baker River Suspension Bridge & Blum Creek & Blum Creek Ridge & Lower Blum Lake & Middle Blum Lake & Southeast Blum Lake & Blum-Hagan Ridge & Point 6729 & Hagan Glacier & West Hagan Col & South Hagan Bench & South Hagan Tarn & Hidden Lake (trail hike & off-trail hike & bushwhack & snow climb & rock scramble)

Ending Point of Aborted Traverse: Hidden Lake (Elev. 4550 feet)

Ending Point of Full Traverse: Watson Lakes Trailhead on Anderson Creek Road (Elev. 4200 feet)

Campsites: Lower Blum Lake & South Hagan Bench

Summit: Mt. Blum (snow climb via South Ridge—South Slope)

Summit: Mt. Hagan (snow climb & rock climb via Northeast Couloir—South Face)

Approximate Stats for Aborted Traverse: 8 miles traveled; 8500 feet gained; 4750 feet lost.

Related Posts

Bacon—Hagan—Blum Traverse + Bacon Peak + Mount Blum – August 2009

Blum Lakes + Mount Blum via South Side – August 2004

Full Trip Report

Eileen, Beth, Steve, and I had been wanting to complete the Blum–Hagan–Bacon Traverse in the Lower Skagit Mountains for the past few years, so we pounced on a sunny Independence Day Weekend weather forecast.  Fay wanted to climb Mt. Blum and Mt. Hagan, so she joined us for the first half of our traverse.  As it turned out, she got her two summits but missed all of the extra-curricular activities.

Day 1: Baker River Trailhead to Lower Blum Lake

After dropping off my vehicle at the Watson Lakes Trailhead, we drove to the Baker River Trailhead and began our trek.  We made a short hike up to the Baker River suspension bridge, crossed the river, and then hiked a few hundred yards downstream.

Upon reaching Blum Creek, we left the trail and located a crude fisherman’s path that followed the northern bank.  This path started with a gentle ascent through valley-bottom brush but soon headed steeply uphill.  Numerous blow-down trees—combined with afternoon temperatures exceeding 90 degrees—made for uncomfortably slow progress.

At an elevation around 4600 feet, the slope angle thankfully eased back, and everyone took this opportunity to scatter hither and yon in an effort to reach 4950-foot Lower Blum Lake before nightfall.  Two of us (those with GPS units) took a low-level rising traverse directly to the lake; two of us took a steeper traverse up to 5100 feet, then dropped a bit to the lake; and one of us headed almost straight uphill to 5800 feet, then descended to the lake.  We arrived at the snow-bound lake in this same order (7.3 to 8.5 hours + 4200 to 5200 feet from TH).  It had been a very taxing first day, so it was quite a surprise to see another climbing group camped nearby.

Day 2: Lower Blum Lake to South Hagan Bench + Summit Climbs

The morning was warm and sunny, and we were slow to get moving.  After finally packing up, we leaped across the lake outlet and then headed around the lake.  The other climbing party was visible a short distance ahead of us; apparently, they had enjoyed an equally relaxed morning.

We quickly passed Middle Blum Lake and began climbing to Southeast Blum Lake, 700 feet above.  From the latter lake, we ascended moderately steep snow due eastward to reach a small col in the Blum-Hagan Ridge.

At the col, we caught up with the other party just as they were heading up Mt. Blum.  Our party of five dropped packs here and headed up closely behind them.  The south ridge of Mt. Blum featured a combination of blocky Class 3 scrambling and pleasant snow climbing.

We gained the summit around noon and spent an hour marveling at the views on this gloriously sunny day.

Our conversations with the other party (Tony, John, Kevin, and George) revealed that they were all from the Kitsap Peninsula and had done most of their climbing in the Olympic Mountains.  I was more than happy to identify the rugged North Cascades peaks for them.

In early afternoon, the Kitsap party left the summit, and our party left shortly afterwards.  We retrieved our backpacks at the col and began traversing southward to Mt. Hagan.

Our traverse involved weaving around some small horns, going over the top of Point 6729, and then making a grungy descent on dirt, wet rock, and snow to work around the eastern side of a 6800-foot knob.

Upon gaining a notch immediately south of this knob, we crossed onto the expansive Hagan Glacier and made a rising traverse.  The multiple pinnacles of Mt. Hagan were clearly visible straight ahead.

After ascertaining which pinnacle is the highest (it’s the southwestern one), we climbed 100 feet of very steep snow, stemmed across a moat, and squeezed through an eastern notch.

We were now on the short, steep, southern face of the summit pinnacle. Several of us roped up for the final Class 3-4 rock climb to the top.

It was now early evening, so we quickly climbed back down the rock and snow to reach the Hagan Glacier.  The Kitsap party had established a campsite nearby, and they were able to observe our entire up-climb and down-climb.  We bade goodbye to Fay on the glacier, as we were headed in opposite directions.  Fay returned to Camp 1 at Blum Lakes, whereas Beth, Steve, Eileen, and I continued southward to Camp 2.

Our remaining party of four traversed around the northwestern flank of Hagan’s summit pinnacle, crossed through a 6450-foot col, and then easily descended a snow couloir.  It was late evening when we reached a 5800-foot bench (11.1 hours + 4000 feet from Camp 1) due south of Mt. Hagan’s summit.  Here, we established Camp 2 on slabby rock with a fabulous view of Bacon Peak.

Day 3 (AM): South Hagan Bench to Hidden Lake

The morning started out with blue skies above, valley fog below, and a promise of great adventure ahead.  We were packed up and moving by 8:30am.

Our route took us southwesterly down snow slopes, past South Hagan Tarn, and over a level arm.  Snow patches soon transitioned into brushy forest as we continued descending.  When a near-vertical cliff blocked our path, we made a sketchy rappel down the slimy rock.

Once off rappel, Steve and Beth hurried on down to Hidden Lake, which occupies the broad saddle between Mt. Hagan and Bacon Peak.  Eileen and I stayed back to coil the rope, then we headed down behind them.  Our group mood was flying high now; we were nearly halfway through the traverse, with two major summits behind us and one more to go.  What could go wrong?

Eileen and I were eager to join our comrades at Hidden Lake, so we hustled down a series of saturated grassy slopes—much like steeply sloping marshes.  The grass was very slippery, causing numerous slips and a few falls.  Then it happened:  I slipped on the grass, and my heavy pack abruptly jerked me backwards on one foot.  There was a loud popping sound, and I felt a snap in my right ankle.  It was broken!

I was distraught about what this meant for our trek and my exit, but I clearly knew that I needed to get myself down to level ground.  Eileen whistled to alert Steve and Beth, who were presumably waiting for us at Hidden Lake, about 100 feet below.  Eventually, Steve appeared through the forest, and I used his trekking poles to hobble downhill.  It was around noon when we all gathered adjacent to the still-frozen lake.

After much strategizing, it was decided that Steve and Beth would head up Bacon Peak with my cell phone and car keys, in faint hopes of making a 9-1-1 call.  They would then continue traversing out to the Watson Lakes Trailhead and drive to the nearest town, where they could make definite phone contact.  It was around 1:30pm when they left Eileen and me at Hidden Lake, sitting under a tarp.

Day 3 (PM): Rescue Call + Helicopter Exit

In mid-afternoon, Eileen and I spotted a group of trekkers walking toward us.  It turned out to be the Kitsap party of four.  Imagine our surprise and delight when we learned that three of them (Tony, John, and Kevin) were Olympic Mountain Rescue members, and the other (George) was a physician!  They immediately jumped into action and worked out a secondary rescue strategy.  Kevin and George would take Eileen with them up Bacon Peak, attempt to make a 9-1-1 call, and then continue out to the trailhead.  Meanwhile, Tony and John would stay with me at Hidden Lake.

Tony and I spent the remainder of the afternoon sitting under a tarp and talked about mountaineering stuff.  Being of similar age and climbing years, we had much to discuss, and this helped greatly to pass the time.  Tony enjoyed a fine cigar in the process.  We hoped that I could be evacuated before nightfall today, but Tony feared that it would take a day or two.

Around 5:30pm, John rushed into the lake basin and excitedly announced that a rescue helicopter was on its way!  He had hiked uphill from the lake and encountered Kevin, George, and Eileen on a high knoll, where they had managed to squeeze out a cell phone call.  They learned that Steve and Beth had already made phone contact with rescue personnel, providing our location and status.

Sometime around 8:00pm, our combined group of six could be found huddled together beneath the wash of a rescue helicopter.  I was loaded into the craft, along with Eileen and our backpacks, and we soon lifted off.

Eileen and I had an uneventful but scenic flight to Concrete, followed by an ambulance ride to Mount Vernon Hospital. A series of x-rays confirmed that I had a broken fibula and likely a ligament tear in my ankle (George was right on with his diagnosis). A friend took us back to Seattle that night, and we got home at 2:30am.

Postscripts

One Week Later: Our partners Steve and Beth had their own epic conclusion, after they topped out on Bacon Peak about 5:30pm Friday. They managed to descend into the cliffy zone below Bacon before getting benighted in steep forest with scant water. On Saturday, they had a 12-hour trek out to the trailhead, including much confusion on the Watson Lakes trail. They were thrashed by the end of it. We met them for lunch to exchange stories, cars, and gear.

14 Years Later: Aside from having a steel plate in my ankle, I’m pleased to say that I have no long-term side-effects from my accident.  I’m even more pleased to say that Tony, John, Kevin, and George—the four Kitsap climbers who came to my aid—have become regular mountaineering partners.  Since 2007, I have done over 100 hikes, climbs, and ski trips with them.  It never ceases to amaze me how something good always comes out of something bad! 

Route Map

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