I drove 1.7 miles beyond Phi Kappa Mine to 8,900' in my Ford Explorer (easy-good road). Hiked straite up to the right (west) of the summit in light snow cover. Had lunch on top of Peak 10,585' and two Mountain Goats appeared right below me on the northeast ridge!
Took Trail Creek to the pass and then headed up the ridge to Phi Kappa and then over to Summit Creek. Great fall weather. Some patchy snow on the trail and ridge but nothing deep. Saw what seemed to be Mt. Lion tracks along the upper ridge.
Took Summit Creek Trail to the pass and then up Phi Kappa and along the ridge to Summit Creek Peak. Came straight down the face from Summit Creek Peak to the trail. The trail up to the pass has significant numbers of downed trees probably from avalanches that make for slow going at times.
We did a big loop with Phi Kappa, then 10585 (thanks, Dan!), then down the face (sree slide).
Evidence of truly awesome avy slides- trees on one side of the valley pushed
Route Climbed: West Face Date Climbed: July 5th, 2003
From Trail Creek Summit, followed Summit Creek to the base of the west face and climbed that to the summit. Followed the ridge north to Peak 10585 afterward. Peak 10585 is actually more impressive of a mountain than Phi Kappa.