Trip Date: September 3-4, 2010

Ruby Mountain Climbing Trip

Thunder Arm
Panther Potholes
Fourth of July Pass
Ruby Mountain (7408’)

Trip Report Summary

Region: Northeastern Washington Cascades

Sub-Region: Ragged Range

Area: Ross Lake National Recreation Area

Starting & Ending Point: Thunder Creek Trailhead at Colonial Creek Campground on Highway 20 (Elev. 1200 feet)

Way Points: Thunder Arm & Thunder Creek Bridge & Panther Creek Trail junction & Fourth of July Camp (trail hike)

Campsite: Fourth of July Camp (Elev. 3450 feet)

Sidetrip: Panther Potholes & Fourth of July Pass & Ruby Mountain summit (trail hike & off-trail hike & bushwhack & rock scramble)

Summit: Ruby Mountain (ascent via Old Ruby Mountain Trail—South Ridge)

Approximate Stats: 20 miles traveled; 6300 feet gained & lost.

Full Trip Report

Eileen and I had only a day-and-a-half to get out over Labor Day Weekend, so we chose to do Ruby Mountain in the Ragged Range. I had been wanting to follow the abandoned trail up the south ridge, and this seemed like a good time to try, despite a shaky weather forecast.

Day 1: Trailhead to Fourth of July Camp

We left town early afternoon on Friday and drove to Colonial Creek Campground, then hiked 4.8 miles to Fourth of July Camp (2.7 hours + 2300 feet from TH). The Panther Creek Trail was in great shape, and the campsites here are comfy. We enjoyed late-evening sun on Primus Peak while eating dinner.

Day 2: Ruby Mtn Summit Climb & Exit

Saturday morning, we left camp and hiked up to 3600-foot Fourth of July Pass, armed with several recent trip reports. These proved invaluable for locating the start of the old Ruby Mtn Way Trail.  It starts at a jagged 8-foot-high stump on the north side of the main trail, about halfway between a small green meadow and a low footbridge. There was also some orange flagging tied around a nearby tree.

From its starting point, the old trail traverses northeasterly on an easy tack through deep, moss-carpeted forest for a half mile or more. At 3900 feet, we lost the old tread where it crosses a gully in a jack-straw forest area. Not knowing where else to go, we simply headed straight uphill, first through steep but open forest, then up a rocky rib. Atop a rocky promontory at 4950 feet, we spotted a duck (small cairn) and orange flagging. This marked the continuation of the old trail as it switchbacks northerly up sparse forest on Ruby’s south ridge.

At 5800 feet, the trail starts a long leftward traverse across grassy benches and moderate heather slopes until ending up on a steep, southwest-facing heather slope. Here, the trail makes numerous tight switchbacks up the steep heather to reach a scree and talus slope at 6600 feet. Once in the scree, we found no more trace of the old trail until on the gentle summit ridge; fortunately, the terrain is wide open and easily ascended even without a trail.

We descended via our ascent route but did a much better job of staying on the old trail. We were back in camp by early evening (3.6 hours from summit), then quickly packed up and hiked out to our car (1.7 hours from camp).

Route Comments

Considering that the old summit trail hasn’t been maintained for perhaps 50-odd years, it is holding up remarkably well over much of the length. The segment between 3900 and 4900 feet seems to be obliterated by downed tree trunks, but a trail-maintenance battalion armed with chain saws could remedy that problem in a few weeks. Even now, the route offers a fun challenge for abandoned-trail seekers, and it rewards the diligent hiker with an outstanding summit.

Photo Gallery

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