West Craggy Peaks

Trip Report

We were a group of 5 for this trip to camp and scramble West Craggy. I posted this scramble trip about a week out before the weekend. I didn't know any of the participants that signed up for the scramble. Except for Claire who was coming along to camp/create art near camp.  It was great to meet new people all from different branches and with a variety of experience levels.  

Our plan was to hike to camp at the 6,600 tarn. Set up camp and scramble West Craggy in the morning. The weather forecast wasn't perfect or full sunshine, there was some predicted/potential clouds and slight precipitation. It was good to have options with the overnight as to when we could head for the summit. 

There are not very many trip reports out there for West Craggy. I found Sue's trip report super helpful and illustrative about what to expect on the scramble portion and to see the camp. Also, found Ian and Rodica's video helpful - showing the tarn/camp area and some views on the traverse from Big to West.

Last year, I did Big Craggy car to car with Kiley in May. We had planned to also tag West Craggy but by the time we made it up Big Craggy we decided with the unconsolidated, wet and not fun to travel on snow conditions we found in the basin and up the ridge we'd rather come back later for West Craggy. Many people do these two peaks car to car. After reading trip reports and watching videos, saw many people who only do Big Craggy. Skipping West because they didn't want to spend the extra time. Or the weather got bad and they didn't want to be out there during a storm. With fewer people doing West Craggy this is one of the reasons it was hard to find trip reports and videos.

Day 1 - 

We met at the Copper Glance trailhead at 11:30am on Friday. Did an introduction to make sure everyone knew each other and then we started off just before noon.  Four of us planned to scramble and one person planned to do some painting at the lake while we were off scrambling. 

 It was a warm day as we headed up the trail into the basin.

The trail was in great shape with no blowdowns on the trail to hop over.  There were beautiful wildflowers blooming pretty much from when we started at the trailhead. They weren't in peak season (slightly past) but still were beautiful. 

Isabella Ridge starting to appear in the distance as we reach the basin.

We went off trail after the creek crossing, just before the 6,200 tarn. Keeping the tarn on our left side as we went up next to the creek. After seeing the route we found on the way down. I would keep going past the tarn and then pass by it with it being on the right side. Really though any way you go will be fine. It's a super short section. We kept the creek on our right side and stuck close to the edge of the boulders on the left side. This area is really beautiful, lots of green plants growing and water flowing down from the tarns and snow. 

Reached the camp and started scoping out areas to put our five 1-person tents. Two of them went in the big area with the rock, where you first reach camp. Two went further down towards the end of the tarn. With the fifth one off to the right of this photo up higher near the edge of the boulders. 

We were glad to find spaces for all of our tents to fit around the tarn. 

Great access to get and filter water at the 6,600 tarn. 

Day 2 - 

Woke up to bluer skies than we had seen the day prior. Yay! There were clouds forecasted for the day though so knew it wouldn't last the entire time. Left camp at 7:15am.

Our plan was to head up west in the basin to the ramp route that most people descend. We didn't bring ice axes or crampons due to a recent report from someone who was there a week prior. 

Here's the vantage showing the rest of the gully we'd go up/down in the middle of the photo. The ~7,000 tarn is also visible at the bottom of the photo. Seeing the snow in the distance, I was unable to tell if this was on the route or just surrounding the route, at the edge. I think it was probably just off the route to the side of the rampy area.

Not knowing for sure about what was ahead and not having our ice axes/crampons, I looked around and noticed that the slope to the north of us was looking like an alternative great option to reach the col. Checking on Gaia, saw it was the lowest slope angle of all the options. It would also mean we could avoid the steep parts that some say are not the best.

Made the decision to change our scramble route head up this way instead. We headed up and it ended up being a GREAT, enjoyable way to reach the ridge.  With no snow being it's south facing. 

Here's the route we took up the slope to the north once we hit the 7,000 foot basin. Added the slope shading, this route would keep us in the red/orange/yellow range. Versus lots of red and some purple/or black if you don't stay on route via the other way.  

We stayed to the right of the lighter sandy gully going down the middle of the photo. Usually staying right at the edge or a little into the green trees.  The entire green tree area is great for travel.

Typical terrain we encountered as we made our way up. 

Views to the east opening up as we reached the ridge. 

Group shot when we reached the ridge, with Big Craggy in the distance. 


Passing by along the col, there's an opening with views of North Craggy. With No Dice Lake down below looking lovely with green larches surrounding the lake. 


For the traversing  over from the col between Big and West, I found Sue's trip report super helpful. Had read that before and then while we were on the route - I looked carefully to see the boot path. Along with having a GPX of folks (Sue and Ian) who stayed slightly below the ridge line. It was fun traversing and route finding. 

Larch tree with abundant colorful pinecones. 

Pav looking across the final stretch that would bring us up to the col to start wrapping around the back side of West Craggy. The goal in this photo is the dip in the horizon on the left side of this photo.  Across this route, the advice to not go too high was very helpful. It's not necessary to be at the top of the ridge and the boot path is much lower. 

Our approximate route of travel across the last stretch up to the col. 

Shirley at the col with the big rocks all around her. 

Heading up to the summit, same thing here - don't go all the way to the ridge/top. You can angle to the left in this photo here and head for the skyline in the left of this photo. 

On the way back down from the summit we found a nice boot path to follow. Look for this. 


Isabella Ridge from West Craggy summit ridge. 

Continuing past false summit points. Keep angling to the left, don't need to go to the top of all of these points. 

Lots of breaks in the rocks as we made our way across. With some snow behind this bump. 

Continuing along summit ridge. Some of the Pasayten gem peaks, along the ridge with Lost Peak, starting to show off to the left skyline. 


Continuing following this way to the final summit high point. Finally reaching the true summit! Pav and Samuel are almost there.  

Our group summit selfie atop West Craggy! We all met for the first time on this trip. It was a great group and wonderful to get to know new scramblers and climbers.  

West Craggy was Samuel's final graduation scramble! Congratulations! It was exciting to be part of Samuel's journey as a scramble student. 

Saw some names of Everett friends in the summit register. The register consisted of a few sheets of paper. Not bound and in a plastic baggie.  

Added a new summit register book and brought the old one back to The Mountaineers. The Mountaineers staff will get the former register added to the archive for summit registers. I had been carrying this little yellow book for a long time. Happy to finally find a summit that needed a new register.

After enjoying the summit views for a full hour, we reversed our steps from the summit, across the traverse and then down the gully. We made our way back to camp. 

Reaching the larch trees as we get closer to camp. 

Reached the 7,000 bench, almost back to camp. We didn't need to travel on snow but made a point to take a few steps going through this patch for fun. 

The 6,600 tarn, our tents on the left side of the water. Thankful for this little slice of beautiful larch trees was spared from the fire that burned the rest of this area. 

Made it back to camp at 1:05pm for a total trip time of 5 hours 50 min round trip, from camp to the summit and back.  

Back at camp, we reunited with Claire who spent morning and early afternoon at Copper Glance Lake. Claire created a lovely painting of Copper Glance Lake and Isabella Ridge. 



After reaching camp, many folks took a nap and relaxed in the afternoon. Claire and I enjoyed exploring the area and taking lots of photos on our phones/DSLRs.

We had dinner and were treated to a colorful sunset at the tarn. All slept well at the tarn in our cozy tents. 


We hiked out in the morning and got back to the cars in 2 hours 6 minutes from the tarn. Arriving by 9:30am. It was great to have the option to get night of restful sleep before having to do the long drive home.  

Thank you to Pav, Shirley, Samuel and Claire for a great trip together in the mountains!  

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