Trip Date: October 3-6, 2003
GOLDEN LARCH OUTING: SAWTOOTH MOUNTAINS
Star Lake Climbing Trip
Fish Creek Pass
Courtney Peak (8392 ft)
Star Lake
Star Pass
Star Peak (8690 ft)
Indianhead Pass
Finney Lakes
Finney Peak (8110 ft)
Buttermilk Lakes
Oval Peak (8795 ft)
Trip Report Summary
Region: North-Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Sawtooth Mountains
Area: Lake Chelan – Sawtooth Wilderness
Starting & Ending Point: West Fork Buttermilk Creek Trailhead at end of West Fork Buttermilk Creek Spur Road #43-500 (Elev. 4000 feet)
Way Points: West Fork Buttermilk Creek Bridge & Fish Creek Pass & Star Lake (trail hike)
Campsite: Star Lake Basin
Summit: Courtney Peak (rock scramble via Southeast Ridge)
Sidetrip: Star Pass (trail hike)
Summit: Star Peak (rock scramble via Southwest Ridge—Northwest Ridge)
Sidetrip: West Prince Creek Basin & Indianhead Pass & Cascade Creek Basin & Finney Saddle & Finney Lakes (trail hike & rock scramble)
Summit: Finney Peak (rock scramble via West Couloir)
Sidetrip: Fish Creek Pass & Buttermilk Lakes (trail hike & off-trail hike)
Summit: Oval Peak (rock scramble via South Ridge; descent via East Ridge—South Face)
Approximate Stats: 40 miles traveled; 14,000 feet gained & lost.
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Full Trip Report
Laura and I joined Mike T, Steve F, Suzanne R, Jeff H, and John H on a golden larch trip in the Lake Chelan – Sawtooth Wilderness. During our trip, we encountered Gordy C and Andy D camped nearby, so we teamed up with them for some summits.
Day 1: Trailhead to Star Lake Basin + Courtney Peak
We all hiked up the very dusty West Fork Buttermilk Creek Trail to Fish Creek Pass (4.9 hours from TH). While the others proceeded over the pass, Suzanne, John, and I scrambled up the Southeast Ridge of Courtney Peak (Class 2-3). We then returned to the pass and hiked down to Star Lake Basin, where we joined our party in camp.
Day 2: Star Peak & Finney Peak Climbs
Our entire group hiked up to Star Pass and scrambled up Star Peak via the Class 1-2 west side route (2.9 hours from camp), the undisputed visual “star” of the area. While everyone else returned to Star Lake, I made a solo trek over Indianhead Pass and up Finney Peak (2.4 hours from Star Pass). Gordy and Andy were already on the summit, having come over directly from camp. I scrambled up both high points of Finney, hoping to determine which is higher, but it was too close to call. Gordy, Andy, and I descended to Finney Lakes on our way back to camp, arriving at nightfall (2.9 hours from summit).
Day 3: Oval Peak Climb
Laura and I hiked up to Fish Creek Pass and along abandoned trail to Buttermilk Lakes, then scrambled up the bouldery South Ridge of Oval Peak (4.3 hours from camp). There was a large group of National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) leaders and students on the summit. Laura and I descended the peak’s East Ridge and South Face to Buttermilk Lakes, then hiked back to camp (3.6 hours from summit).
Day 4: Star Lake Basin to Trailhead
We all packed up and hiked back over Fish Creek Pass and down West Fork Buttermilk Creet to the trailhead (3.5 hours from camp) to end a wonderful golden larch outing.
Photo Gallery
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