Reynolds Peak, Chelan Sawtooths Mountains

Jim and I were able to squeak in one more summit before the weather turned bad last week. We were joined by Lisa and Kevin Loper and their friend, Doug. We all agreed our best chance of staying out of the bad weather was to go east and climb Reynolds Peak.

The most common route up Reynolds is a bushwack up an abandoned trail to the basin. This route includes several bad creek crossings. We opted for a longer approach which included a beautiful, long ridge run.

We had good trail the first 4000 feet to Williams Lake.

Here we were able to transition to snow to gain the ridge and take in our first views of Reynolds Peak, seen on the right. Camel Hump is on the left. None of us could ever see the Camel.

We set off down the ridge and were soon delighted to see a dry camp or something we could make into a camp. So nice not to be sleeping on snow. We even had a view.

We woke to blue skies and headed out by 6:30. Early for me but I did not want to get suck in the afternoon rain.

The ridge walk was quite fun with views from the top of each knoll.

We soon found ourselves at the notch in the ridge that would take us down to the basin. From there we were able to ascend mostly snow to the base of the Reynold’s summit block.

Once we reached the summit block, we took off crampons and began the rock scramble which lead to a very fun Class 3 ridge scramble.

We arrived the summit just 4 hours after leaving camp. It is nice when their is no trickery in route.

It took about 30 minutes for everyone to get cold and be ready to head down. (Everyone but Jim of course).

We scrambled back down the ridge, navigated the loose rock in the gully, and found ourselves on plungable snow which made for a quick decent back to camp.

Having arrived back to camp at only 2pm, we all decided to move camp before the rain came in. The rain hit us at 4pm about the time we reached the lake. Nothing look appealing so we all decided to hike out. It made for a long day but it was nice to get the long decent over with.

Complete Photo Gallery

Jim just below the summit of Reynolds

Climbing out of the basin below Reynolds Peak. Our snow ramp can be seen on the other side of the basin

Jim and I on the summit of Reynolds

Upper half of our morning ridge run

Our ridge runs up the right side of Camels Hump

Lisa and Jim descending the gully below the summit of Reynolds

Views while running the ridge

Climbing the snow to the Summit Horn on Reynolds Peak

Jim from camp looking out at the Gardners above Winthrop

Our quick descent off Reynold’s Peak

Jim and Doug on the final pitch of Reynolds

Lower half of the morning ridge run. We are camped in the low spot

Williams Lake (need to return here sometime and camp. The lake is beautiful)

Camels Hump and Reynolds Peak from Camp

Camel Hump on the left. Reynolds Peak on the right.

Jim and I enjoying the cloud view of the nearby peaks

Our happy dry camp with a view of Camels Hump and Reynolds is behind the trees.

Lisa and Kevin climbing the ridge below the summit of Reynolds