Alpine Scramble - Del Campo Peak

We will meet at 7 am at the Barlow Pass TH parking, Forest Pass required.  Please plan to arrive at least a quarter hour early to boot up, discuss the route, make introductions, etc.  Barlow Pass is at the SE "corner" of the Mountain Loop Highway's excursion into the old-timey Monte Cristo silver and gold mining district.  From Seattle, drive as if you were heading for the Verlot Ranger Station and Mt. Pilchuck: take I-5 north to Everett and then exit on eastbound US Hwy 2 across the trestle.  At the east end of the trestle, exit by following signs for Lake Stevens.  Where the connecting road meets Hwy 9, turn left/north on 9, drive a couple miles north, then turn right/east toward Granite Falls.  Stay on the main eastbound road through several lights and roundabout through the town of Granite Falls to a T-intersection.  Turn left at the T and follow (what will turn into) the Mountain Loop Highway north and then east past the Verlot Ranger Station and on east to Barlow Pass.  

I'll provide more detailed directions including highway numbers and approx. distances  with the pre-trip emails.  Allow about an hour to Granite Falls from Seattle and 40 minutes to an hour on slower (though paved) county and FS roads to Barlow Pass.  Don't push your speed through the small communities (Robe and Silverton) past Granite Falls or on the temptingly curvy roads.    

The first part of the approach goes past a vehicle gate and along a fairly level dirt road grade for a mile, then right on the Weeden Creek trail into lowland rain forest.  The trail become increasingly steep as it switchbacks up and up into Foggy Basin with occasional stream crossings, scrambly bits, and possible remnants of north-aspect sheltered snow, often hard and compact.  We'll wind our way up into Foggy Basin, reload water (two or three party members should bring filter/pumps), and then start the real approach past an inviting tarn and up steep meadow waytrail to rockfall and possible snow to the imposing summit.