Pickets Traverse (North to South, Whatcom Pass to Picket Pass to Sourdough)
On a 2002 trip to West McMillan, I looked northeast toward Picket Pass, and ever since have wanted to travel through it. It's some of the most wildly carved mountain terrain in the Northwest. Having been at the northern and southern ends of the Pickets, I want to make the grand north-south traverse that connects them.
This trip is designed mainly to make the traverse, while fitting in whatever peaks are most interesting to the participants along the way. Thus it ignores some of the more commonly climbed Pickets peaks, but fits in some less common ones. Peak selection is still open to input from participants.
Peaks: Whatcom, Phantom, Fury East & West, Elephant Butte. Maybe West Challenger.
Route: Little Beaver, Whatcom Pass, Perfect Pass,
Dates
8.5 Days
mid-July 2008
Party Size: 4-6
Itinerary
Day 1: (Short day after car shuttle and water taxi.) Take water taxi to Little Beaver Landing. Hike Little Beaver Trail partway to Whatcom Pass. I'd prefer to camp at Stilwell, but it might not be available.
Day2: Hike Little Beaver trail to Whatcom Pass or Perfect Pass.
Day 3: Traverse below Whatcom to Perfect Pass. Ascend Whatcom.
Day 4: Move camp to Point 6548 below Phantom. Ascend Phantom if time allows.. Move camp below Phantom
Day 5: Ascend Phantom if not already done. Move camp to Picket Pass.
Day 6: Scramble Fury, preferably both summits. Camp remains at Picket Pass.
Day 7: Traverse below southern Pickets and back up to ridge east of East McMillan. Camp on ridge circa Point 6455 or further.
Day 8: Follow ridge east to Elephant Butte, including Points 6914 & 6889. Cross Torrent Creek col to Stetattle Ridge. Follow Stetattle ridge south as far as time allows. Probably camp circa Point 6366.
Day 9: Follow ridge south to Sourdough Trail, then continue to trailhead.
Routes
Details TBD.
Statistics
TBD
Maps
(Yellow & red lines are alternating days.)
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Photos