They had nowhere to go and with bear tracks extending into the lake, it was clear the trout were likely providing an easy snack for a lot of critters. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. A chance of snow showers before 2pm, then a slight chance of rain showers. 418. Human-caused carelessness transformed nearly 40% of this beautiful wilderness into charred devastation that wont ever be the same in our lifetime. Many loop hikes and backpacking trips can be done from this area as well. At 0.7 mi you will encounter a junction. We headed back to the trail and continued on, finally reaching the historic cabins between First and Middle Hidden Lakes at Stub Creek, which were wrapped and saved from the fire. 07/18, Tue: Boundary TR 533 Horseshoe Basin to Teapot Dome 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. . Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your At the easterly edge of the Pasayten Wilderness, almost touching the Canadian border, lies a truly unique and beautifully remote place. If staying here to explore the adjacent peaks should be scrambled up. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Sooperfly I have 2 questions. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. At the very end of August, I spent 6 days backpacking over 80 miles inside the Pasayten, first completing a stunning solo backpack loop around Devil's Dome on its west side, then joining up with a friend to explore around the Hidden Lakes of the central Pasayten. Its no secret to most who know me that the Pasayten Wilderness, which spans over 531,000 acres on Washingtons northeast border with Canada, is one of my favorite places to explore. At 1.5 mi cross Clutch Creek. See Resources (below) for Frequently Asked Questions and packing recommendations. To see any green in this badly burned landscape was refreshing and we couldnt help but admire it. And best find of all, a large bull moose between Snehumption Gap and the South shoulder of Arnold. The cabins are full of rodents however. I choose to purchase my gear from companies who do good in the world. Theyll take turns using a big crosscut saw to cut logs, and smaller hand saws and loppers to cut saplings and brush from the trail. Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches have been issued. Continue straight to Horseshoe Basin. A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 11am. Things really open up at Sunny pass. The fishing is also good in lower Cathedral. We bumped into a buck on our way up. Getting to the Billy Goat trailhead is a small adventure in and of itself and takes roughly an hour from Winthrop. . Right along the trail were two enormous horse camps with safe unburned trees and lots of rocks and logs for lounging. Its home to an astounding array of wildlife, including the largest population of lynx in the lower 48 as well as deer, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and wolves. 1am PDT Apr 18, 2023-6pm PDT Apr 24, 2023, Excessive Rainfall and Winter Weather Forecasts, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. So much in nature goes completely unnoticed until you truly sit down, be still, watch, and listen. Allow plenty of time to explore Horseshoe Basin by camping at the trailhead, where primitive camping without a water source is available. La Sportiva, My favorite kind of zen. 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Again, it was perfect walking weather. The wildness of the Pasayten is unparalleled in Washington and when you step inside its boundaries, its a place without time. It was beautiful. Take in the expansiveness of the area. On this backcountry trip our crew will backpack out to Fireplace Camp at the foot of Haig Mountain on the PNT/. We heard it slogging through the water but it darted out of the lake and into the woods of Rock Mtn before we could get a photo. 5 cars in the lot, one park ranger truck, 3 SUVs and a banged up Geo Metro with a note saying they were in the backcountry UNTIL SEPT 26! It was perfect moose and beaver habitat. The Hidden Lakes and Billy Goat area of the Pasayten had been on my radar for many years, but I hadnt planned to get there on this particular trip. Beginning at the Irongate Trailhead west of Loomis, hikers will head west, covering some of the most spectacular features of the wilderness area until eventually turning into the Castle Pass Trail, and descending out of the Pasayten Wilderness. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain. updates, images, or resources. Smith Lake is interesting as is Louden Lake. West wind 5 to 9 mph becoming east after midnight. Partly sunny, with a high near 46. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and camping, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Weather forecast for Horseshoe Basin (Washington), with all weather data such as: Temperature, Felt temperature, Atmospheric pressure, Relative humidity, Wind speed, Wind gusts, Isotherm, Precipitation, Cloud cover and Heat index - www.ViewWeather.com Enjoy this 12.5-mile out-and-back trail near Tonasket, Washington. We found tiny underwater snails on the logs, saw trout jumping from the lake, and could have stayed here for days, soaking it all in. We sat down, enjoying the amazing solitude, the huge views stretched out before us, and the unbelievable blue sky. Be sure to hike Armstrong and get a picture of yourself at the US/Canadian border marker. http://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/EID/vol3no2/adobe/jay.pdf. The morning light perfectly illuminated all of the little flying critters and we sat there for over an hour, watching this incredible dance of nature. The shortest route to get Cathedral Lakes (not coming from Canada) is roughly 19 miles. Want so spread even more good? Behind us was Many Trails Peak, towering over the landscape. Summer average highs are 70-80F, and lows are 35-45F. Wildflowers/Meadows Mountain views Wildlife Established campsites Ridges/passes Dogs allowed on leash Boundary Trail - Pasayten, Horseshoe Basin, Arnold Peak, Horseshoe Mountain, Goodenough Peak. If moving on the trail soon leaves the meadows and heads back into the forest as you round a bend and head towards Haig Mountain. Packed up and moved camp to a Col half way up Horseshoe Mtn. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. What is best? Please select one of the following: A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Nothing looks out of place. If backpacking or in need of alonger day and bigger views keep on going. Snow showers, mainly after 11am. The conditions worsened over night with high winds and light snow the entire night. Photo by Wild Side.jpeg, Hiker Headlines: WTA Now Hiring, Highway Spring Cleaning, Trails Reopen, Upcoming Snowy Weekend. Nice flat grade for many miles and very gradual slope for any of the hills. away. Known to some as the "American Alps," a seemingly endless horizon of majestic peaks define this breathtaking landscape. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Be warned, this road is quite rough high clearance vehicles are necessary to negotiate it. There are no activities scheduled at this location. Weather was partly cloudy and cool, in the 50s. After sleuthing out and identifying all the tracks, Laurel discovered that the lake was somehow draining underground. Horseshoe Basin is one of the few places in the Lower 48 to contain alpine tundra and is home to bears, deer and bighorn sheep, if you know where to look. The Diamond Creek bridge was protected during the fire and is surprisingly still intact. Log in and send us Without hesitation Laurel and I climbed down the rocky slope to get a closer look. Horseshoe Basin is one of the few places in the Lower 48 to contain alpine tundra and is home to bears, deer and pronghorn sheep, if you know where to look. But probably buggier. Follow the Windy Trail for 2.5 miles to the summit of Windy Peak (WP3). It was sobering to see the charred landscape. Log in and send us We had originally planned to camp here for the night but decided to push on a few more miles to Cougar Lake to see if we could find a safer and more private camp spot. But watch freezing levels, and go prepared for any kind of weather. This is a short backpacking trip my buddy Adam and I did in Washington's Pasayten Wilderness a few weeks ago in June, 2019. But as I hiked, I wasnt really thinking about my legs or how tired they were from these 80 miles in the Pasayten. Eventually the trail all but disappeared and we picked the path of least resistance through the trees and debris, at last arriving at the shore of Big Hidden Lake, which stretched gorgeously far into the distance. Cougar Lake was peacefully beautiful in the light of day and the air was full of the tiny meeps of pika. Horseshoe Basin via Cascade Pass 18 miles round trip with 4,600 feet of elevation gain From the trailhead, climb the trail to Cascade Pass. Abraham Lincoln. The unmistakable sound of a beaver! Attempted Eastern Pasayten loop on 6/23. Please try another search. The views can be breathtaking. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. Nice report and great pics. I watched in amazement as Laurel pulled margarita mix, limes, tequila, guacamole, and fresh carrots from her pack. & Four Point Lake. Get a good weather report before you go and be prepared for anything. We found ourselves drawn to the Billy Goat and Hidden Lakes area of the Pasayten. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. After Lucky Pass, the trail has a few small rollers before making a big descent 1,500 over the next 3.5 miles to Diamond Creek, just past the 9 mile mark. The lake was low and completely cut off. Horseshoe Basin, Pasayten, WA Whether you have a day or a week to hike, one of the best places to visit in Washington is Horseshoe Basin in the North Cascades. Combined with North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake National Recreation Area to the west, and the Canadian roadless areas to the north, the region has more than one million acres of wild lands. "Other than that, the post was more or less accurate." Laurel and I spent our last day at Cougar Lake lazily, not really wanting to leave. You walk through forests with hints of aspen trees and wildflowers, after that it changes to walking through a very rocky and bouldery terrain and a burn area, and then you get up to the alpine looking terrain. Adult participantsmay backpack in/out of the backcountry camp on their own timeframe; however, unaccompanied minors must remain with the crew for the full duration of the trip. From the trailhead, enter a forest still bearing scars from the 2006 Tripod Fire. West wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. There were still small batches in the shady spots. Once this section of corridor is clear, well turn our attention to tread work. Washington Trails Association Meanwhile, the nearest taller peak, Jack Mountain, sits 15 miles away. Along the way through the burnt trees there are 6 ft new growing pine trees helping to lush up the trail. The trail gradually descendsthrough the forest for a short but when you get your first taste of whats to come. 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