Camels Hump by Reynolds Peak in Lake Chelan-Sawtooth / 駱駝峰

  • Reading time:9 mins read

Camels Hump by Reynolds Peak shares a short ridgeline with its famous neighbor. It’s also the fourth tallest peak in North Methow Mountains. Other notable high points here include Mount Gibbs and Rennie Peak.

Camels Hump summit beyond the ridgeline
Camels Hump summit beyond the ridgeline

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Camels Hump at a Glance

Access: Reynolds Creek Trailhead
Round Trip: 12.5 miles
Elevation Range: 3160′-8015′
Gear: helmet, snowshoes, ice ax
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: with guidance

The Preface

Alas, fall is right around the corner. So I sat down and reminisced about the memorable moments over the past four months. I took a break from the blog with the fabulous summer and channeled my energy outside.

After last weekend, the year’s season opener brought us out to Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness. Yellow pup and I continued our peak-bagging quests there. Meanwhile, the black lab enjoyed his time in boarding.

Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness
Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness

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Camels Hump

I had no specific goals in mind this year. I also didn’t want to commit to another climbing list. Nevertheless, we checked out two of the second hundred highest peaks in one of my favorite wildernesses.

The long drive to the trailhead was smooth. Later we slept in the car, something we typically do on a Friday night. Then the following day, we started walking right before 7 AM.

Easier with snow
Easier with snow

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Reynolds Creek Trail

It’s our second outing in Reynolds Creek Basin. The first trip was six years earlier. Though this time, we had snow en route. So we didn’t need to pole vault our way through the massive down trees.

Snow showed up at mile two, and soon, we crossed the creek into the basin using sufficient snow. Thanks to the two climbers climbing Reynolds Peak, who left us with decent tracks.

Camels Hump this way
Camels Hump this way

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Reynolds Creek Basin

I put on snowshoes before the clearing. Then we went up to the top of the drainage, where the leftmost gully gave access to the upper basin. Soon, we were on Camels Hump’s east ridge at 7100′.

After a break, we moved west below the crest over steep terrain to the 7680′ ridge bump. Soon, we saw Camels Hump on the other end of the ridge, with the actual summit tucked behind it.

Tony Basin
Tony Basin

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Final Ridge Traverse

The corniced ridgeline soon forced us to traverse the south slopes above Tony Basin. The milder terrain in the final 200′ made for a satisfying finish. Earlier, I mistook the rocks above for the summit and left the snowshoes there.

Soon, I realized we were not quite at the top and wished I had kept the snowshoes. But it was too much work to go back and get the gear by then. So we stepped through the snow in the last 100′ to finish the climb.

The final stretch
The final stretch

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Camels Hump Summit Views

There were too many peaks to name on this clear day, with views abound. Reynolds Peak had made up the bulk of the landscape to the north. Its south face looked a lot less intimidating compared with the north.

Oval Peak loomed over the southeastern skyline in part of the Wish Slam. Plus, the plethora of Washington’s highest peaks were all around us. But I wish we had more time to spare and savor everything.

Mount Gibbs
Mount Gibbs

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Outro

We took our sweet time down to Reynolds Creek Basin. But it was slushy by the afternoon. Back in the forest by Reynolds Creek, we met a Mountaineers group. Among them were a couple of friends on their way to climbing Reynolds Peak.

It was Memorial Day weekend. So campsites along Twisp River Road were free. The pup and I later spent the night at the South Creek Campground. Though, the area was sure quiet for a holiday.

Back to Reynolds Creek Basin
Back to Reynolds Creek Basin

See more trip photos here.

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