Ptarmigan Peak Route Info for Hidden Lakes Approach
Driving: The shortest drive to the Upper Pasayten
Road is north on I-5, east on SR 542, then north on SR9 to cross the border at
Sumas. Then take Canadian Hwy 1 east to Hope, and Hwy 3 east to Manning
Provincial Park. The Upper Pasayten Road is 1.5 miles east of the east
boundary of the park. Drive south about until you reach the bridge over the
Pasayen River. Stay on the main road all the way. At the first major fork
(on the point of a left-turning switchback), stay left (marked “Pasayten), do
not take the right fork (marked “Manning”). The next fork is just past a
left-turning switchback where the main road turns right and continues climbing
to parallel the river. The road then parallels the river for about 15 miles
(exact mileage unknown). Park on the west side of the bridge; do not cross
the river.
Trails: On the west side of the river, follow an
unnamed trail south to the border (circa 1.5 miles). Then go south on Border Trail #461(2.1
mi.),
(briefly west on Bounday Trail #533 if the bridge has been repaired (0.8 mi.)),
south on Hidden Lakes Trail #477 (5.7 mi.), and west on Tatoosh Buttes Trail #485 (3
mi.).
Route: From the high point on Tatoosh Buttes
Trail (circa 7100 feet), follow Tamarack Ridge south. Bypass Point 7593 by
traversing the west side circa 7300 feet. Follow easy slopes around the west
edge of Ptarmigan and up to the summit. For Dot, follow easy slopes south
from Ptarmigan.
Camps: The best
valley camp was at the junction of trails 477 & 451, where there is a log
shelter and large clearing. There also were way trails to camps at the north
end of Upper Hidden Lake. Beyond there, the valley was either steep or
swampy. Gunbarrel Camp at 6450 on the Tatoosh Buttes trail is much more
scenic, but its stream was dry when we were there. |
