Pasayten Wilderness Mega Traverse Expedition

🏔️ Pasayten Wilderness Mega Traverse Expedition Mount Rolo → Osceola → Carru → Lago → Dot → Ptarmigan → Blackcap → Pass Butte → Lost → Johnny → Many Trails Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights Season: Early June 2026 (Very Low Snow Year) Style: Backpacking + Peakbagging Traverse Difficulty: Advanced Wilderness Mountaineering Technical Difficulty: Mostly Class 2, occasional Class 3 route finding Total Distance: ~50–60 miles Total Elevation Gain: ~18,000–22,000 ft Bulgers: 6/100 ⸻ 🎯 Expedition Objective Complete one of the premier peakbagging traverses in the Pasayten Wilderness, linking: 1. Mount Rolo 🌟 1. Osceola Peak ⭐ 1. Mount Carru ⭐ 1. Mount Lago ⭐ 1. Dot Mountain 🌟 1. Ptarmigan Peak ⭐ 1. Blackcap Mountain ⭐ 1. Pass Butte 🌟 1. Lost Peak ⭐ 1. Johnny Peak 🌟 1. Many Trails Peak 🌟 ⭐ = Bulger Peak 🌟 = Top 200 ⸻ 🚗 Travel Logistics Thursday Evening Drive from Seattle to the Pasayten. Approximate drive: Seattle → Winthrop → Loomis → Slate Peak Road Distance: ~280 miles Time: ~6.5 hours Recommended: ✅ Sleep at trailhead or ✅ Car camp near Iron Gate Early start is critical. ⸻ 🗺️ Route Overview The traverse naturally breaks into: Phase 1 Northern Okanogan Range Rolo Osceola Carru Phase 2 Lago Basin Lago Dot Phase 3 Central Crest Ptarmigan Blackcap Pass Butte Phase 4 Southern Peaks Lost Johnny Many Trails ⸻ DAY 1 Iron Gate → Rolo → Osceola → Carru Camp: Carru Basin 🥾 Distance: ~13 miles ⬆️ Gain: ~5,500 ft ⸻ Start Leave trailhead: 5:00 AM Follow the Boundary Trail south. ⸻ 🏔️ Mount Rolo Class 2 Easy tundra slopes. Roundtrip off-route: ~1 mile ⸻ 🏔️ Osceola Peak ⭐ Class 2 One of the finest summits in the Okanogan Range. Outstanding views toward: Lago Carru Cathedral Group Allow: 1.5 hours ⸻ 🏔️ Mount Carru ⭐ Class 2 Continue south via broad ridge. This is straightforward in low-snow conditions. ⸻ 🏕️ Camp 1 Carru Basin Why camp here: ✅ Reliable water ✅ Beautiful scenery ✅ Excellent positioning for Lago ✅ Protected from wind Elevation: ~7,000 ft Expected arrival: 5–7 PM ⸻ DAY 2 Carru Basin → Lago → Dot → Ptarmigan Camp: Ptarmigan Basin 🥾 Distance: ~11 miles ⬆️ Gain: ~4,000 ft ⸻ 🏔️ Mount Lago ⭐ Class 2 Highest summit of the trip. One of Washington’s great Bulgers. Allow: 2–3 hours from camp. ⸻ 🏔️ Dot Mountain Class 2 Quick bonus summit. Minimal extra effort. ⸻ 🏔️ Ptarmigan Peak ⭐ Class 2 Long scenic ridge travel. Some talus. No major difficulties expected in a low snow year. ⸻ 🏕️ Camp 2 Ptarmigan Basin Excellent water. Excellent sunset. Ideal launch point for Blackcap. Elevation: ~6,800–7,000 ft Arrival: 4–6 PM ⸻ DAY 3 Ptarmigan → Blackcap → Pass Butte → Lost Camp: Lost Creek Basin 🥾 Distance: ~12–14 miles ⬆️ Gain: ~5,000 ft ⸻ 🏔️ Blackcap Mountain ⭐ Class 2–3 One of the best viewpoints in the Pasayten. Short scrambling near summit. ⸻ 🏔️ Pass Butte Class 2 Easy summit. Fast ascent. ⸻ 🏔️ Lost Peak ⭐ Class 2–3 Perhaps the most rugged mountain on the route. Excellent views. Some loose terrain. Take your time. ⸻ 🏕️ Camp 3 Lost Creek Basin Reliable water. Protected campsites. Excellent positioning for final day. Arrival: 5–7 PM ⸻ DAY 4 Johnny → Many Trails → Exit 🥾 Distance: ~15–18 miles ⬆️ Gain: ~3,000 ft ⬇️ Loss: ~6,000+ ft ⸻ 🏔️ Johnny Peak Class 2 Quick summit. Mostly tundra. ⸻ 🏔️ Many Trails Peak Class 2 Final summit. Excellent finale to the traverse. ⸻ Exit Follow trail system northward back toward Iron Gate. Expected trailhead arrival: 4–8 PM depending on pace. ⸻ 💧 Water Strategy Low snow year means many seasonal streams may already be drying. Reliable sources: ✅ Carru Basin ✅ Lago Basin ✅ Ptarmigan Basin ✅ Lost Creek Basin Always leave camp with: 2–3 liters Do not assume ridge water. ⸻ ⚠️ Major Hazards Heat Likely your biggest challenge. Expect: 70–85°F afternoons Little shade. ⸻ Navigation Much of the traverse is off-trail. Bring: Gaia GPS CalTopo Offline Maps Paper map backup ⸻ Loose Talus Most common around: Lost Blackcap Lago Helmets recommended. ⸻ Wildlife Expect: 🫎 Moose 🦌 Deer 🐐 Mountain goats 🐻 Black bears 🐿️ Marmots Store food carefully. ⸻ 📋 Recommended Gear Shelter ✅ Lightweight 3-season tent Sleep ✅ 20–30°F bag Navigation ✅ Gaia GPS ✅ CalTopo ✅ Compass Footwear ✅ Trail runners or light mountaineering boots Snow travel equipment likely unnecessary if the low-snow trend continues, but monitor conditions closely before departure. Emergency ✅ Satellite communicator (Garmin InReach) Strongly recommended due to the remoteness. ⸻ 🏆 Mountaineering Significance Completion of this traverse would earn: ✅ 6 Bulgers ✅ Most major summits surrounding Lago Basin ✅ One of the largest Okanogan Range traverses commonly undertaken ✅ Roughly 6% of the entire Bulger List ✅ A highly respected wilderness peakbagging accomplishment among Washington climbers For a Washington mountaineer, this is the kind of trip that stands out because of its combination of remoteness, efficiency, endurance, and route-finding, rather than technical climbing difficulty. Completing all 11 peaks in a continuous 4-day push would be a serious Pasayten achievement. 🏔️🔥 IMPORTANT- This is NOT a guided trip, you are responsible for yourself when you sign up.