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- Apr 16, 2022
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The Bailey Range Traverse
Cascade Traverses, such as the Ptarmigan, are well-known adventures. But deep in the heart of the Olympic Mountains is one of Washington’s most elusive traverses — the Bailey Range Traverse and a grand finale of Mount Olympus. Read MM guide Brian Mueller’s story below and find out why its one of his favorite trips.
Over the dates of July 16 – 24 last summer, a couple lucky Mountain Madness guests enjoyed the wonders of the fantastic Bailey Range Traverse. This high traverse through Olympic National Park is rugged, remote, and involves a wide variety of different skills. Combine this with a bit of luck, having no rain, and a fantastic time was had on the traverse including 4.5 days without seeing another person.
Much like the Ptarmigan and Isolation Traverses, where there are opportunities to climb some peaks along the way, the Bailey Range Traverse has some climbs along the way, culminating with the crown jewel, Mount Olympus. On the way some of the highlights of the trip were summiting Mount Carrie, which was a Class 3 scramble up the ridge from our second nights camp, Boston Charlie. Up until this point on the trip the clouds had kept us from views, however while climbing the peak we poked above the clouds, and found some phenomenal views.
![Bailey Range 3](https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1826&q=80&w=2200&s=7066257362d616dd3f3af78563c36059 2200w 1826h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1660&q=80&w=2000&s=393bf3a029bf3015c58ee37f32e2fd6c 2000w 1660h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1494&q=80&w=1800&s=d23ca9274387281cfba69ee09b63d53c 1800w 1494h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1328&q=80&w=1600&s=2b86df8b061dcbbc8383c2ec662ac2eb 1600w 1328h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1162&q=80&w=1400&s=7c5455e95e9dd54e7ee93ec3fafed1f8 1400w 1162h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=996&q=80&w=1200&s=526a654f66e560d50937246d510b74ad 1200w 996h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=830&q=80&w=1000&s=00d82bd19e64e8605bdbe3f533e20f22 1000w 830h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=664&q=80&w=800&s=53b55092e79cd4e00e3516799aa152a0 800w 664h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=498&q=80&w=600&s=4a34330a2a3ec3ac4ccca1da69f24d0a 600w 498h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=332&q=80&w=400&s=d8a5c6e263ac9d4b735d4c7dbd10c3b5 400w 332h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=166&q=80&w=200&s=46f1b15bf408f721599e2f077a507eb0 200w 166h)
![Bailey Range 2](https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1826&q=80&w=2200&s=a632058c754b6b79afc174f31af14d90 2200w 1826h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1660&q=80&w=2000&s=c6f6eb2b4d8a103936b2769a3f52e5e4 2000w 1660h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1494&q=80&w=1800&s=8219bc989162af4394204631f37ad576 1800w 1494h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1328&q=80&w=1600&s=eeb868ffa0fed0c1f881280a48e72da6 1600w 1328h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1162&q=80&w=1400&s=8febe51da7b9deec110d011a62af2979 1400w 1162h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=996&q=80&w=1200&s=ab8b65a534dcad16df4bedb3c364d5f1 1200w 996h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=830&q=80&w=1000&s=b22276a67bb7c0a9186dfacf569bf2f1 1000w 830h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=664&q=80&w=800&s=d8c18d70cdae3dd9c858795b5c6ee8c8 800w 664h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=498&q=80&w=600&s=974d388ba3be60d3488687e568f1063e 600w 498h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=332&q=80&w=400&s=0512a1c176e4f23bf4442dcc07bc385c 400w 332h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=166&q=80&w=200&s=834414e84aa92f88f2178f35e6d1d2b8 200w 166h)
A favorite section of the route however, comes after camping at Cream Lake. The previous day is hard earned travel across some challenging terrain, and you are now in the heart of the Bailey Range. This section travels over heather and interspersed game trails through alpine lakes and meadows, as you make your way to Lone Tree Pass. This area gives you a sense of the scale and ruggedness of some of the Olympics with a 2000’ drop from camp down to the Goldie drainage.
As we rounded the traverse and made our way towards Mount Olympus and the Humes Glacier, evidence of glacier recession was abundant when the map showed we were on the glacier but had some final shenanigans to actually reach it! From here it was smooth sailing through on glaciers and rock scrambling to one of the more spectacular camps a person can visit, Camp Pan, located on a rocky prow overlooking the Hoh Glacier.
![Bailey range 5](https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-range-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1826&q=80&w=2200&s=800dbeca6eb52584a1e54171babf3db0 2200w 1826h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-range-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1660&q=80&w=2000&s=215134113c6aaf55ecb12a1b121c43da 2000w 1660h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-range-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1494&q=80&w=1800&s=563175a70af4dee2167fdbbccf6b41eb 1800w 1494h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-range-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1328&q=80&w=1600&s=ba1c0ab3d5950712ac182a723ec56413 1600w 1328h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-range-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1162&q=80&w=1400&s=9c411220e53b6edc862b7e7f9ff8f19f 1400w 1162h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-range-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=996&q=80&w=1200&s=e2fc6293e0c4b56fe8d7aa971ca3d8fe 1200w 996h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-range-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=830&q=80&w=1000&s=4e04ada0da2d2f1ce29e067ab6dd8ed3 1000w 830h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-range-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=664&q=80&w=800&s=1252336514478f51b3e2d1042ec9833c 800w 664h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-range-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=498&q=80&w=600&s=c64eb180d1fcadb197f0b7f473e6dfd6 600w 498h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-range-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=332&q=80&w=400&s=e0aaec556562f488bd2690063ed73749 400w 332h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-range-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=166&q=80&w=200&s=98de8bdf97912cc0e5c2b06c3d466706 200w 166h)
![Bailey Range 4](https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1826&q=80&w=2200&s=873f1fe38544f139b0bd1c3338756ee3 2200w 1826h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1660&q=80&w=2000&s=8a1f3bc57b41deb25ee6c527ac702756 2000w 1660h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1494&q=80&w=1800&s=df6c03f8501f3f4568c641a5e55ceee9 1800w 1494h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1328&q=80&w=1600&s=fafa45cf583d4f8e2a3f03fba90bc22a 1600w 1328h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1162&q=80&w=1400&s=9709487913ffe4cdfcd3d33dbfc3a809 1400w 1162h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=996&q=80&w=1200&s=09ac5706b300ca9467cc09a268824d3a 1200w 996h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=830&q=80&w=1000&s=f840183042c5e63832233c02db2c1a57 1000w 830h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=664&q=80&w=800&s=2300bdbec4777224373f3b382eb10c04 800w 664h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=498&q=80&w=600&s=0f369ab0725a9c4eb85b413cf7a18c62 600w 498h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=332&q=80&w=400&s=63a7eec2ec5bad9072406122d50be5df 400w 332h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=166&q=80&w=200&s=e6998465fc059523707b3d9503a0caf6 200w 166h)
From here its glacier travel interspersed with rocky scrambling, steep snow, and rock climbing to reach the summit of the West Peak of Mount Olympus, where we were fortunate to be staring in the distance at the Pacific Ocean and Vancouver Island.
All in all, this is a fantastic experience, in a rugged area. If you are considering this trip, prepare yourself for a rugged experience, but know it is one of this guides favorite Madness trips.
![Bailey Range 6](https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=864&q=80&w=2200&s=83ba536c69f782f6f80a1d6d3415018e 2200w 864h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=786&q=80&w=2000&s=52c3705b81511e5b568b7e95a9e51b65 2000w 786h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=707&q=80&w=1800&s=9b4023c2b38f81029198b2963ed43ae1 1800w 707h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=629&q=80&w=1600&s=94b6ff7f7b0c6653a63f42145d2d1b72 1600w 629h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=550&q=80&w=1400&s=49937959b76242de0776c2bf11892d3d 1400w 550h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=471&q=80&w=1200&s=541fe56f3e351ed31c4c406f26bc99dd 1200w 471h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=393&q=80&w=1000&s=109b684a447e757bc2add2e8626bab44 1000w 393h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=314&q=80&w=800&s=2a5d9b44cdb82d6f606dff52651629c6 800w 314h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=236&q=80&w=600&s=41de7511584cb8d118dd273b5da6d59e 600w 236h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=157&q=80&w=400&s=4195fb017b156033e5709eb0b29231c1 400w 157h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Bailey-Range-6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=79&q=80&w=200&s=fe167d19dddc9c2275a3134466038404 200w 79h)