THE CHELAN SUMMIT TRAIL August 30 to September 2,1980 Opening notes: Usually you will find such notes at the end of these trip logs but in this case a few things need to be mentioned beforehand. 1. This trip log is incomplete - when I was re-typing it in 1997 I found that I have only notes for the first couple of days of this trip but if my memory serves me correctly that may have been all that was hiked as because of bad weather, tougher than expected terrain and some disagreements among the participants we ended the trip on the third or fourth day. 2. One of the things that can ruin a week long trip is dissention among the group. While Des, Mary and Dennis have manage over the years to soothe over any differences and work together , this year’s addition of Yvonne - who has hiked and camped with us as part of the Hygh Tymers or Y Hiking Club - brought another personality into the group that just didn’t work. No blame on Yvonne or any of us - it is one of those situations that developed that just didn’t work out. Anyway, what follows is an incomplete report on a Labor Day trip to the Chelan Summit Trail in Washington state. DAY ONE SATURDAY AUGUST 30, 1980 It is time again to put on the packs and head off into into the back country for a week’s respite from the rigors of an urban society. This year’s trip was to be along the Chelan Crest or Summit trail and would reunite Dennis, Des and Mary for their first trip together in four years. Joining us for her first week long adventure was our long time friend from the Hygh Tymers, Yvonne. The trip was planned for September because the weather should be cooler and hopefully drier in the eastern Cascades. If you have ever travelled in the Okanogan Valley in Washington state in the heat of summer you will appreciate why we have decided to travel at this time of the year. Our biggest concern was which access points to pick up the Summit trail and whether to use the Lake Chelan boat for our exit. But thanks to Mary who had obtained the necessary maps and talked with the Forest Service rangers we had a pretty good idea of how to come and go and which we finalized on the day of departure with a stop at the Twisp Ranger station. Day one saw me almost have a heart attack when my trusty old 1969 Datsun wouldn’t start but a boost from a passing cabbie got us underway and I made it toTwisp before Mary and Des who had the nerve to stop for breakfast along the way. After a quick check on trail conditions, obtaining wilderness permits we headed for the Eagle Creek trailhead some fourteen miles up the paved Twisp River Rd and then onto the War Creek Rd and finally Eagle Creek Rd to trailhead. The last two roads are gravel and dusty but maintained by the Forest Service so any car can get up them. Now comes the task of assorting two gargabe bags full of food into our already bulging packs. While completing this chore a cold beer helped ease the pain as we buckled our packs and started a steady climb for two miles to the Oval Creek trail junction, where a signpost indicated that Silver Lake was three miles ahead and so we set aim for this as a possible campsite. The trail is getting steeper and I’m finding out how much I’m out of shape - huff and puff - all the way muttering to myself - doesn’t this trail ever flatten out. We pass a nice campsite but water seems scarce and where is Yvonne - the youngest and fittest in the group. We continue up and over a rocky stretch and finally spot the Silver Lake trail marker. Yvonne is waiting for us as we straggle into camp only to find humans and horses camped in the meadow area near the lake. We finally settle for a camp spot some one hundred yards away from the others. Silver Lake is a smallpond about the size of Beaver Lake in Stanley Park but does provide some open views of the ridge and Chelan Crest ahead. Supper is hot beverage, green pea soup, chili amd choclate waffers. We have hiked five miles in three and one half hours and climbed some 2500’. We are camped at 5600’ Before turning in we visit with the horse party and traded stories and information. DAY TWO SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 1980 Awoke to clear, frosty weather and dried out the tent flies before starting up the trail for Eagle Pass some two and one quarter miles ahead. The trail is marked every mile so it was easy to keep track of our progress. The first mile was an uphill climb which lead to a three quarter mile stretch of gradual meadow climb. Here a coffee stop provided a respite before attempting the last half mile to 7400’ Eagle Pass. What a struggle - My pack feels like it weighs one hundred pounds - will I ever make it to the Pass? . Finally did make it - two and one quarter miles in two hours with a 1600’ elevation gain. The view is great but by now overcast skies spoiled what should be a fantastic view. We can see Silver Lake far below us which reminded us how much we have climbed already. Once down from the pass - one mile and 1000’ we intended to head north towards Lake Juanita which we would day hike into tomorrow. We are now also officially on the Summit trail and one quarter mile below the junction we find a pleasant campsite and after much discussion decide to camp here since the trail is going steeply downhill and we would rather have a longer day trip than a back breaking climb tomorrow. Since it is only early afternoon we hike some two miles straight down to the North Fish creek junction and this open stretch provided us with a view of the way ahead to Lake Juanita and turned us off the idea of day tripping tomorrow. We have hiked four miles and packed four miles. Our campsite is at 6200’. We have climbed over 1800’ and then dropped at least 600’ to our current campsite - more elevation gain and losses if you count our pack free hiking. The distance and steepest of the trails in this area seems to have catch us off guard and is leading some of us to question just how much more of this to we way to take - we don’t seem a happy bunch. Before supper there’s time for a shot of volka and how great it tasted after today’s trek. Supper was spinach soup, spaghetti and meat balls with Jacobs biscuits for dessert. Tomorrow south on the Summit trail and a possible camp at Surprise Lake. DAY THREE MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 1980 This is where my notes on this trip are either missing or were never completed but if my memory serves be correct we either turned around and headed back out today or tomorrow. Also I remember something about the weather becoming wet which also lead to a change of plans. This is one of those cases where the guide books describing an area can give you a false sense that the trail will be easy etc. when in fact the opposite is true. However that is life and there isn’t much one can do about it.