NORTH CHELAN SUMMIT CIRCUIT (Overnight Alpine Scramble)

OVERVIEW

🎯 Objective

Bag four major peaks from one efficient high camp at Boiling Lake.

📍 Why Boiling Lake = Best Staging

Centrally located between all four summits
Cleaner ridge connectivity → less elevation loss
Faster big-day loops than Cooney Lake
Reliable water + good camp platforms

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🗓️ SCHEDULE SUMMARY

Friday – June 5

3:00 – Meet at Green Lake P&R 🚗
13:00–7:15 – Drive to Crater Creek Campground
7:15–8:00 – Set up car camp 🏕️
Overnight – Sleep + prep packs

📆 DAY 1 – Saturday, June 6

04:00 a.m – Wake ☀️
05:00 a.m – Begin approach
8:00–8:30 a.m – Arrive Boiling Lake, set camp 🏕️
9:00 a.m –2:00 p.m– Bigelow → Cheops summits 🏔️🏔️
4:00 p.m – Dinner + rest
Overnight – High camp

➤ Approach to Boiling Lake

Distance: 6.5 mi
Gain: ~3,100 ft
Time: 3–4.5 hrs
Route: Crater Creek TH → Eagle Lakes Trail → Horsehead Pass → Boiling Lake
Notes: Reliable water, good tent spots
Snow conditions: Low-snow year → Expect only isolated patches above 6,500–7,000 ft, mostly avoidable.

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🧗 Summit: Mount Bigelow (8,459 ft)

RT: 4.5 mi
Gain: ~1,900 ft
Time: 3–4 hrs
Terrain: Class 2/2+ talus
Why first: It’s farthest from camp → most efficient to knock out early

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🧗 Summit: Cheops (8,108 ft)

RT from saddle: ~3 mi
Gain: ~1,000 ft
Time: ~2 hrs
Terrain: Mostly class 2
Return: Same ridge back to camp for dinner

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📆 DAY 2 – Sunday, June 7

3:30 a.m – Breakfast
04:00–9:30 a.m– Martin → Switchback 🏔️🏔️
9:45–10:15 a.m. – Break camp
10:15–1:30 p.m – Hike out
1:30–5:30 – Drive to Seattle 🏠

🧗 Summit: Martin Peak (8,375 ft)

RT: 4.5 mi
Gain: ~1,800 ft
Time: 3–3.5 hrs
Route: South ridge from Boiling Lake
Terrain: Class 2 rock

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🧗 Summit: Switchback Mountain (8,321 ft)

From Martin: 1.8 mi
Gain: ~600 ft
Time: 1.5–2 hrs
Terrain: Easy class 2
Return: Retrace to camp → pack out

🎒 GEAR CHECKLIST (Low-Snow Year Adjusted)

Required

Helmet
Trekking poles
Light traction optional (microspikes)
Ice axe not needed unless freak June storm
Water filter
GPS + map
Sun + bug protection (Sawtooths can be buggy in June)

⚠️ CONDITIONS & RISK NOTES

Thunderstorms possible by mid-afternoon → summit early
Martin Peak has loose rock in upper section
Creeks are manageable in low-snow years
Expect dry talus, sun exposure, and warm days
This is NOT a guided trip, signing the RSVP means you are responsible for your own safety, and I will not be responsible for you.