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- Aug 19, 2013
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The Bailey Range; a True Paradise
Client Mike Natucci and guide Aili Farquhar headed out on the sunny morning of July 20th from Second Ascent in Seattle. Their destination: the Bailey Range, a remote interior sub-range of the Olympic Mountains. This range is rugged, with peaks soaring from sea level to 7,000 feet or more just miles from the ocean. The lower slopes are covered with thick rainforest, some of which receives more than 300 inches of rain a year. The Baileys are known for intricate glaciated terrain, rotten rock, and abundant vegetation, all of which the team would encounter on their nine day odyssey across the Bailey Range.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_distance.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=36169de18457672dae26e42c4276b3d6 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_distance.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=29444da9188a36d0500c298974181d9d 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_distance.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=94b9b2546645768a77ce932fe8ad7255 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_distance.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=397231f9ab4d78ee03a3669aab12fd89 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_distance.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=43c0fc08ea05baccbae6e3960a8e94b3 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_distance.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=099b091bb951204810cc4f40881fdf91 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_distance.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=5761dadfd34e020ee64a0acc58bcb30b 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_distance.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=1c5b890d428248fa737c4d1c9c7773fc 1024w)
Aili Farquhar Photo
Mike was no stranger to off-trail travel in the Olympics, and had completed the Ptarmigan Traverse with Mountain Madness the year before. Aili had traversed part of the Baileys on a personal trip years before, and had explored other areas of the Olympics as a wilderness ranger, Madness guide, and on personal time. The first crux of the trip for this strong team was getting out of Seattle on the Edmonds-Kingston ferry before the hoardes of weekenders got ahead of them in line. This feat accomplished, the two narrowly dodged the Lavender Festival in Sequim as they arranged a car shuttle from the Sol-Duc trailhead to the Hoh courtesy of climber Bret Wirta, who courteously offered to accommodate this shuttle despite the fact that he could not go on the trip.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_Birds.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=95c9720d070d25819984f22ad3aa1811 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_Birds.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=92133c95391eb1d162ef4b7cf07cb33d 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_Birds.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=0978f25820287f58bf4644ba7dfecac5 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_Birds.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=593ef8c617204bf46267314e9b4eb882 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_Birds.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=285d3d560e2f835e7dee74d251c6b6df 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_Birds.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=57ef17fa4b092631ffb9b3efedbd911f 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_Birds.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=6084a7531109b41cf44e1268e067d32a 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_Birds.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=b2a95e225d586030e392356b629d2532 1024w)
Aili Farqhar Photo
Mike and Aili loaded up their packs with nine days of food, camping gear, fuel, and clothing before hitting the trail to the Baileys. They climbed through big old growth trees in the hot sun, passing families and day hikers before beginning a steep uphill section. They camped that night in the subalpine, filtering water from Bridge Creek before setting out in the cool early morning temperatures for what the ranger at the Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles had said would be a snowy traverse.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_valley.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=ceb20d38bdf62531024bd056f208348d 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_valley.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=f58af5e1dd238303173c6d8e0469bb26 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_valley.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=83d55152cf3439723307f0ba7e0d05a3 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_valley.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=ea1d45a52738d438b20a4389cf97e03b 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_valley.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=523e5e4f1a71598aa03494f9756a47a8 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_valley.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=8457f97a1226323374f19f1754b202b2 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_valley.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=bd8872782122ac312a0a36beccb54c1e 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_valley.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=3ecf14b2471b34621c5add1ffe7e29ad 1024w)
Aili Farqhar Photo
When Mike and Aili arrived at the High Divide at 5,000 foot elevation they were pleasantly surprised. The five feet of snow the ranger had warned them about had melted out and left in its wake waving fields of white glacier lilies with bright yellow centers. They hiked on a good trail to the famed Catwalk between Cat Basin and Mt. Carrie. This is the true beginning of the Bailey Range, and lived up to its reputation for tricky, rocky travel, bad rock, and precipitous drop-offs on either side. Curious mountain goats observed the climbing team from a distance as they roped up and made their way through this half-mile of steep terrain with heavy second-day-of-the-trip packs.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1704.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=680fc1d5ac698fc0b99db53eb1b0a6d8 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1704.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=afc69c05342452eea880133da89a8ffa 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1704.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=987facae646aac6b4008d1684753065c 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1704.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=65bc05dd69353de6bc2e36b1033d034d 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1704.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=0874e57bb71b490c35829568610046c8 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1704.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=e4fb94566e1d3ea5b2e81618ab9b47c7 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1704.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=d80edcb163c22d98c3785ae738b15a9e 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1704.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=c4095dcdf3946eb9e21926b9e43db266 1024w)
Aili Farqhar Photo
After a rest at the stagnant tarn at Boston Charlie’s camp, the team headed out of the forest and up the grassy lower slopes of Mt. Carrie. They encountered snowfields and steep talus on the upper slopes, and roped up once again. As they rested in the warm, windless afternoon air on the summit Aili spied a flat bivy site a few hundred yards down the ridge. The team decided to bivy right on top of the Mt. Carrie ridge. After setting up camp and melting water, the two settled in for a dinner of freeze dried food with a cup of hot lemon-ginger tea with honey and chocolate cherries for dessert. The sun set over the High Divide and the folded ridges of the Hoh River drainage as the full moon rose over the peaks lit by red light in the east.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_suncups.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=768dacdb1f06c737d2625321cbe7dc15 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_suncups.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=dab780d34ca73881ce365e099951c96c 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_suncups.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=0da17e0232bb89da80abfed3f8958557 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_suncups.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=fbd40b0876662aef926fdf8d8748ec2e 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_suncups.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=2aba4a3457bcc79fe6e9d42975344f51 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_suncups.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=66777b68078995648147ef77e6fce6e6 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_suncups.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=1d2c50aa348afedf8f39fc34b7a7d418 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_suncups.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=c3cacb994f6a0d8969a2b3a98f6406f5 1024w)
Aili Farqhar Photo
The next morning, the team traversed the Carrie Glacier to the pass that would take them to 11 Bull Basin. The ascent to this pass turned out to be more technical than they had anticipated, with steep snow and a short walk over exposed glacier ice. Mike climbed this obstacle with strength and grace despite the heavy pack and his limited experience on this type of terrain. They ate lunch at the top of the pass, then dropped into the basin. Elk tracks in the snow showed them the best way to traverse around the partially frozen lake in the basin until they encountered an outlet stream too big to jump across. Aili was able to justify her decision to lug her Crocs all the way across the Bailey Range when the team used them to cushion their boot-softened feet against sharp stones during the wade across this stream with heavy packs. They found a delightful flat campsite in 11 Bull Basin, and splashed clean in the melt water streams among snowfields and wildflowers.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_flower.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=5ba8f5452816dbfac93961a3c124fc7c 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_flower.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=f49c18d8c14a4c3d424ee771ac35bd1c 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_flower.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=8aee1c9dd926d319471913d897c88269 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_flower.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=c9a8297ece80fa499c922bb776fd1ef8 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_flower.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=918ee806ae6b06e418c08d5fdaa4ad10 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_flower.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=65bab8f16ae83c05bf0c5f980536e1fe 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_flower.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=2bc8d06ae382d6a01afc0e46cc6cb48c 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_flower.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=67111362bb3d907974b9c093d203375d 1024w)
Aili Farqhar Photo
The team was burdened by their heavy packs. The hot days and smaller lunchtime appetites of the two climbers made it apparent that they had brought more cheese than necessary. The logical solution was to make as many quesadillas as possible. To do this, Aili made a triangle of sticks and melted the cheese onto tortillas over the very powerful MSR Reactor stove. This was a delicate process that usually resulted in the sticks catching on fire, but yielded delicious cheesy results.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1711.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=305057341d72e18660d1dd60d55a7e03 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1711.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=f3e1c3ff31dd65a7c9be6902806c3c8e 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1711.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=e16b4f58dcfdd8f29dc6a0a16e88e8ee 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1711.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=e5891fed41e3342d204c32602ceb481c 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1711.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=39c37796ff0417ce72b1d12995470e63 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1711.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=921986bee80e14b39c9829340ff0ddab 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1711.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=76d1b85ef8cc0edc66e8663b9c514f24 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1711.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=b79c4335662ad4b09c73bbc550304cdb 768w)
Aili Farqhar Photo
In the cool of the morning the team climbed over the shoulder of Stephen Peak onto the rocky ridge above Cream Lake Basin. The mosquitoes greeted the climbers with great glee at the top of the ridge and happily hung around all day, delighted for the warm-blooded company. The ridge proved quite a challenge – loose, third-class ledges gave way to groveling through thick evergreen branches of the Ridgetop Krummholtz. Finally, Mike and Aili were able to follow a veritable elk highway to the gentle snowfingers that led to Upper Ferry Basin.
This campsite was a delight. A former glacier had become a big, partially frozen lake. After setting up camp Mike cleaned up in the lake and Aili jumped right in. They dined on olive oil-salmon couscous, tea, and ginger snaps as the long summer sunset, reflected in the glacier lake, changed with the setting sun. The Milky Way was visible in the warm summer night until the bright moon rose.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_sunset.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=023068886c9284e38cf74b39eb0fe4e6 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_sunset.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=92825e82db497e49d5c0ad1398d481e2 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_sunset.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=033ac805e1d4cf1d3214bd7cef1ea695 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_sunset.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=c29a38fe0881cd01048a8c0a5a3a3d5c 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_sunset.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=adcefb63fdcbfbc125ca272103e248d0 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_sunset.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=ce5829932bcdc4c4c87f498f05fba244 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_sunset.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=583c32d0379dc7932243d67621e3ee26 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_sunset.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=2e64c61273541b87c439493d0a56be79 1024w)
Aili Farqhar Photo
After a restful evening the climbers began their traverse of the Bailey Range proper. They climbed over the shoulder of Mt. Pulitzer. They spied a lone hiker climbing up from Lone Tree Pass. This mystery hiker must have wanted solitude, and somehow passed by the team as they rested and ate on the upper slopes of Pulitzer. They descended to Lone Tree, where Mike got a shot by the tree that gives the pass its name. They continued on the eastern slopes of the Baileys, passing jagged ridges and side-hilling until they reached the massive snowcapped Bear Pass. They found the trail that descends steep heather meadows towards Dodwell-Rixon Pass and stopped for water by a lovely tarn that overlooked Queets Basin. They descended gentle snowy slopes until they reached a flat grassy campsite in an open, barren part of the basin.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=009c88941050b819791c303d24707756 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=e25ee61b25b834cdb8be7f93ce490438 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=5a689d4bc497273b26bf8e34911d1964 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=527fcbcc0ffd975289372bd2976a567a 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=22b81bcc63290fde42d623a92a9a157d 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=fb966334b3aaab0eaddfebce1622f0ad 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=fc4b4aa0e5724d1d23e0340288b647c7 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1676.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=466c6bf8f55f05a0efa12c237865d33b 1600w)
Aili Farqhar Photo
Mike and Aili set up camp and spent the rest of the afternoon on their own exploring the thundering cascades, sun-warmed tarns, rocky outcroppings, abundant wildflowers, stunning glacier views, and fascinating geology of this remote basin which is not accessed by a single trail. The team also found some sticks lying around the basin, and therefore delicious MSR Reactor quesadillas were again on the evening menu.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=2b7232d8e99552246441d1a412f4fa75 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=411ae075742949cbac18c417ce1bb66b 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=5d66f0ef75430521767a046dccae637c 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=84cf82ad2537e2c664f10e7521458ac6 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=d99cec979a0af4890ff7745fc7e024b6 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=1eac5b51bd8a9f17835fb4156702b2ad 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=190c6462b8804f053a73c7550c9f1e51 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_lake.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=32564cb1a395452d4f1c65122026be13 1024w)
Aili Farqhar Photo
Aili’s Crocs again came in handy the next morning as the two forded the Queets River. The first ranger Aili had worked with in the Olympics had once told her that if ever she had route-finding difficulties that ‘the animals know where to go’. This advice proved correct, and Aili and Mike followed the ancient trails over which generations of elk had passed before, through the steep forests and meadows leading to the terminus of the Humes Glacier. A few times the team had to employ the infamous ‘veggie belay’ technique ubiquitous to Olympic and North Cascade off-trail travel.
They finally reached the polished glacier rocks at the base of the Humes. Thousands of aphids rose as they wove among slide alder and the wreckage of an old airplane to gain the smooth travel that the low-angle Humes Glacier provided. The lower part of the glacier was below the ablation zone – the zone in which the previous years snow all melts away – and was therefore blue ice. Small streams ran over this ice, and running water burbled below the glacier’s surface.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_crevasses.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=7e1a4c6d534a8b7df57de01fdf5c1c99 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_crevasses.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=bcbd5c432724918623a2a30436d8b0db 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_crevasses.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=c0c117c52e666e5acf082c498ec78dec 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_crevasses.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=b94293ae551033392ffde0ad30f47df2 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_crevasses.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=ce3dd0ea56440e41d8f5480fa3a38227 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_crevasses.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=784422aa6b853acbf6ce44c6fc43c40b 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_crevasses.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=b620a2c40ad1e7731394ed8c2ac12c4b 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FBailey_crevasses.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=b3d13f1366e57d72d039617b33eb50f1 1024w)
Aili Farqhar Photo
The team then climbed into the snow and over Blizzard Pass. The Hoh Glacier flowed down into blue ice, moraine, then became the thundering Hoh River below. They descended steep snow to the island in the sky that is Camp Pan, a small enclave of trees and flat dirt perched on a rocky outcrop a few hundred feet above the Hoh Glacier. From this campsite they enjoyed a long glacier sunset and another splendid moonrise.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2011.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=adc3f47580bec8ec4a30cf144450fb98 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2011.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=982f4c1775e8a4309975cef01a91b980 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2011.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=c545c69b3c6fb8607522331bac0c30cf 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2011.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=25f7729b01c1a917d2d9f2803b0f9adf 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2011.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=2d1519e164827136d80fe56dc6c8e13e 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2011.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=272099665f94513f03226b9fefa1fbd3 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2011.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=24b89d08983d4cbe035b2103ba0f2890 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_2011.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=9c620f26a461b8fc722e25926996349b 1024w)
Aili Farqhar Photo
The next day found them again on steep glaciers. They ascended snow to the base of the East Summit of Olympus. Fourth and low fifth class loose Olympic rock led them to the summit and through a loose and blocky downclimb to the security of snow below this summit. When they joined the footprints of the regular route to the summit of Olympus they set a picket, clipped off their heavy packs, and took a light pack with food, water, sat phone, and first aid kit and headed over the middle summit feeling light and fast in pursuit of the westernmost and true summit of Olympus.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1987.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=3411681fbb65d0bea928c5c8fbc781f6 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1987.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=3c118fc8d01f79469ad9beabaf630fbb 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1987.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=2bcc87c4465823bb810ca0623f3cd0b0 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1987.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=c68429bb256c99452c42001a4fd92ba5 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1987.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=a257debe1278c85de9f7199b46d64ee2 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1987.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=fa14f134a3afc8b395bee2d9ba809ce5 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1987.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=5cce17b1c320202df9c3c0424e51a48d 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FIMG_1987.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=8dea32dd490f86bb9e43d38a11abff2f 1024w)
Aili Farqhar Photo
A steep snow slope and 5.4 rock pitch through a blocky chimney led the team to the summit of Olympus. On the seventh day of the traverse, they had reached the ceiling of the Olympic Mountain Range. They enjoyed photos and a snack as they looked at Baker, Rainier, and St. Helens floating in the distance. After rappelling off the summit block the team made haste back to the packs. As they donned the heavy beasts once again and began to descend they met two Park volunteers going for an evening summit. These volunteers, Dave and Mary Anne, were doing work to keep the Snow Dome research station in good repair. The team decided to accept the volunteers’ kind offer of popcorn and a visit to the station and made camp on the shoulder of Panic Peak on top of Snow Dome.
- MM Guide, Aili Farquhar