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DSCF0236.JPG11 viewsFrom the saddle south of Strawberry Basin, the route appears to descend steeply to Warm Springs Creek from the mouth of the basin to the northeast. On the far left of the photo, the entrance to Iron Basin can be seen above Warm Springs Creek.
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DSCF0241.JPG11 viewsDead tree on the saddle south of Strawberry Basin.
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DSCF0243.JPG11 viewsAfter an initial steep descent from the mouth of Strawberry Basin on the north, the terrain below levels out into some nice meadows before steeping again.
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DSCF0324.JPG11 viewsThe saddle I’m standing on drops into a drainage west of Boulder Chain Lakes, which descends to Warm Springs Creek. The correct saddle, to drop into Hummock Lake, lies higher on the ridge to the east. That saddle in a bit east of the low point on the skyline. It becomes obvious when one looks down into the lake basin.
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DSCF0325.JPG11 viewsD. O. Lee Peak to the west northwest, from the saddle that allows access to Hummock Lake.
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DSCF0326.JPG11 viewsThe descent was not as exposed as I remembered, but requires careful route finding to ensure the safest descent.
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DSCF0328.JPG11 viewsCastle Peak, and the Serrate Ridge rise in the distance to the south. Scoop Lake (seen below the Serrate Ridge) is the highest Lake one encounters on the trail before climbing south out of the Boulder Chain Lakes basin.
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DSCF0329.JPG11 viewsTo the north, the ridge I ascended to avoid “side-hilling” in talus is seen west of Island Lake. It might have taken longer, but was a much more pleasant route than that from Cove Lake, described in the Idaho Alpine Zone article, and the one taken in my first crossing between the two Boulder Lake basins two years prior.
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DSCF0331.JPG11 viewsLooking northwest from the saddle between the two Boulder Lake basins past the lower saddle (above the snowfield) to D. O. Lee Peak in the distance (directly above the low point of the saddle).
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DSCF0340.JPG11 viewsOnce again, I have the “primo” camp at the southeast end of Hummock Lake (and the entire lake) to myself. By 8:00 pm, the tent is up, food hang set, water pumped, and I am ready to make dinner. The weather threat has diminished. Despite being tempted by some large fish rings on the glassy surface of the lake, I decide to fish early in the morning. Wilderness police have been destroying the established fire rings, making it an effort to cook any fish I might catch over the coals. Firewood is provided!
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DSCF0373.JPG11 viewsAt 8:30 pm I reach the ridge top, but there is still a bit more uphill. I photograph D. O. Lee Peak in the hazy, fading light, have a snack, and continue. I see headlamps ascending the trail. I finally take out my headlamp. At 9:20 pm, I meet a woman headed for Born lakes, and advise her where to find the Z-packs tent city. Twenty minutes later, there is a group of five headed for Washington Lake, intending to take Splatski"s Cutoff the next morning and climb Castle Peak. I reach the car at 10:23 pm.
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DSCF0487.JPG11 viewsThe objective comes into view; the D. O. Lee/WCP-9 saddle on the skyline (mid-frame). I plan to leave the trail just above that rock outcrop near the bottom of the frame below D. O. Lee Peak, which is on the skyline, just right of center. My route climbs through the trees to the right of the frame, entering Bighorn Basin (about mid-frame, on the vertical axis). I believe the trail descends to Ocalkens Lake (on the extreme left of frame); I’d rather not lose that much elevation.
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