Bowan Mountain on Rainbow Ridge sits atop the splendid Rainbow Lake-McAlester Pass loop. The expansive McGregor Mountain, one of numerous classic climbs in the area, rises to the west. Meanwhile, the awe-inspiring McAlester Mountain and West Level Peak are situated to the east near Mount Gibbs.
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Bowan Mountain at a Glance
Environs = Rainbow Ridge + McAlester Mountain + West Level Peak + Dee Dee Peak
週圍地區=彩虹脊+麥卡利斯特山+西平峯+迪迪峯
Access: Bridge Creek Trailhead
Round Trip: 39 miles
Elevation Range: 3600′-7928′
Gear: helmet, crampons, ice ax
Route Info: Brett Dyson, Eric Eames
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: no pets
Playlist: Hopeful
Friday, July 15
Overview > Day 1 > Day 2 > Day 3
McAlester Pass Camp + Rainbow Ridge + Bowan Mountain
Bowan Mountain via Bridge Creek Trail
I decided against a southern approach due to logistical challenges with the dogs. Besides Bowan Mountain, this trip also included visits to Rainbow Ridge, West Level Peak, McAlester Mountain, and Dee Dee Peak. Leaving the dogs behind was a good choice for the strenuous outing inside the recreation area.
The familiar hike down Bridge Creek Trail to McAlester Lake Trail felt quiet and uneventful. Pleasant morning weather accompanied the 3.5-mile journey to the fork. After the crossing over Bridge Creek, a half-split log bridge appeared at East Fork McAlester Creek. Despite the minor setback, the journey to Bowan Mountain was still off to a great start.
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Exploring McAlester Lake Trail Through the Woods
With no dry crossing available, I forded the shallow creek in camp slippers. The next two miles were straightforward, leading to the first trail bend with views of Hock Mountain. Soon, spotty vistas of Three Wives’ lower ridges and Rainbow Ridge appeared through the trees. After several more switchbacks, the path passed the hidden McAlester Lake before continuing toward Bowan Mountain.
Expecting a woodsy saddle, I was instead greeted by a vast, green meadow at McAlester Pass. The impressive McAlester Mountain dominated the view, appearing almost superimposed on the landscape. After stashing some gear, I continued south to find the Rainbow Ridge Trail. Initially missing the fork, I later stumbled onto the trail on the other side of the pass.
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Rainbow Ridge High Point to Bowan Mountain
The trail started with standing water from snowmelt and was occasionally hard to follow. Meanwhile, it stayed south of a small stream and would sometimes disappear under snow patches. The traverse across Rainbow Ridge to the south saddle of Bowan Mountain was a long four miles. During this, rolling terrain passed through two lake basins.
The trail vanished into snow past Lake 6111 but would continue to reappear in several places. Above the lake, I used crampons to ascend to the Rainbow Ridge High Point. A 600-foot drop was necessary on the west ridge along to the top of Lake 6495. From there, it was another 1.5 miles to the summit of Bowan Mountain.
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Final Stretch to Viewing Glacier Peak Wilderness
A dry spot on the ridge provided a better route to a notch at 6500 feet. From there, the magnificent McGregor Mountain came into view. After navigating around a buttress, the route entered a broad, loose rock gully. Then, I bypassed one of two following gullies from the east ridge before traversing the final ledges from the north up to the summit.
The close-up view of McGregor Mountain from the top of Bowan Mountain was particularly rewarding. I quickly identified the next day’s objectives: McAlester Mountain and West Level Peak in the distance. The panoramic vista included everything within the national park, with an unexpected view of stunning Lake Chelan.
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Returning to McAlester Pass From Bowan Mountain
Despite the appeal of camping in a lake basin, I needed to return to the pass to be near the next day’s goals. I downclimbed the gravel slabs and aimed for Rainbow Ridge. To stay on track, I retraced my steps, regaining a total of 800 feet of elevation through the lake basins. After a quick dinner, I watched “Go Back to China” before a restful night in my bivy on the pass.
Saturday, July 16
Overview > Day 1 > Day 2 > Day 3
West Level Peak + McAlester Mountain
Uncovering Dee Dee Lakes, Pass, and Beyond
The day began at 5 AM when I headed toward South Pass after breakfast. The trail soon led to a beautiful meadow with McAlester Mountain as the centerpiece. I stopped frequently along the way to admire the dramatic landscape before reaching the pass. From there, a faint trail led to Dee Dee Lakes, with the upper lake sitting 50 feet higher beneath McAlester Mountain.
From the upper lake, I soon ascended steep, rocky terrain to the 6640-foot saddle. After dropping off some gear in the trees, where I would stay the night, I climbed a snowy slope to a 7080-foot notch. The final part of the ascent to the pass was weaving through boulders to avoid the melted snow toward the top of the slopes.
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West Level Peak by Bowan Mountain and the Final Stretch
I began the 1.5-mile traverse to West Level Peak through the top of Rennie Creek Basin. It involved a 500-foot drop to a moraine, alternating between rocks and snow. The route offered endless vistas of Reynolds Peak, Camels Hump, and perhaps even Rennie Peak. Meanwhile, the challenging ascent of Bowan Mountain the previous day was still fresh in my mind.
Shortly after rounding the east ridge at 6500 feet, I entered a broad gully. The ascent involved navigating steepening snow terrain and wet rocks from running water. Before long, I avoided cliffs and cornices by attaining the southeast ridge at 7400 feet, using an ice ax to pull myself over a snow bank. Afterward, the final 400 feet to the summit was on class 2 terrain.
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Summit Vistas Followed by McAlester Mountain Approach
The exhausting climb was rewarded with incredible views, especially seeing Bowan Mountain from this angle. I limited my summit stay to thirty minutes to save time for McAlester Mountain. Meanwhile, Goode Mountain and other high peaks of the state provided a dramatic backdrop to the landscape.
I carefully downclimbed rocks, farther south of the snow bank. Retracing my tracks back to the moraine made the return to the other side trip smoother. Instead of alternating between rocks and snow again, I took a direct snowfield route to the south ridge of McAlester Mountain. Soon, I was on the summit crest, ready for the final push to the top.
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The Final Stretch and Breathtaking Vistas
The east peak appeared taller from below, but climbing over it was more manageable than bypassing it. The true summit conveniently sat on the west end of the ridgeline, farther than I had pictured. Meanwhile, traversing along the crest was exposed but not technically difficult. A few notches required dropping below the ridgeline for safety before reaching the top near sunset.
The day went by too swiftly. My late arrival meant a quick break, but sunset time provided perfect lighting for photos. From this vantage point, Bowan Mountain looked as distant as McAlester Mountain had from its summit. The curving ridgeline from McAlester Mountain to West Level Peak was my favorite view. I left the summit as soon as the sun dipped below the horizon.
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Retracing Steps to Dee Dee Pass Camp
A 200-foot scree descent led me from the summit ridge back to the snow. I then made a beeline for the saddle west of Point 7371, where I had come from this morning. The most challenging part was finding a feasible way down the north side due to snow conditions. After collecting water from a stream, I settled into my windy campsite for the night after a quick dinner. Meanwhile, I crossed my fingers for no rats around.
Sunday, July 17
Overview > Day 1 > Day 2 > Day 3
Dee Dee Peak + Exit
Return to North Cascades Highway via Dee Dee Peak
Dee Dee Peak was a short 400-foot climb above the campsite and a scenic route back to South Pass on the north side. Along the way, I enjoyed direct views of Mother Lode Peak and Crescent Mountain over South Creek. Soon, morning mist gave way as I returned to McAlester Pass, a perfect end to the Bowan Mountain adventure.
I greeted two hikers climbing Banshee Peak, walked through McAlester Pass without stopping, taking a quick side trip to McAlester Lake. After fording the creek, I waved to other folks at the PCT junction. The final uphill section to the highway was the least enjoyable part of the trip. Despite being an hour behind schedule, I was hopeful of picking up my dogs on time.
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