We had planned on a high traverse from high pass to clark and out, but on the top of Napeequa got the weather forecast for monday rain and bailed from that and did Buck. Napeequa has great views! went down and over cleator ridge and set up camp and proceeded to climb buck and come down in sunset. Out the shoulder route on monday morning, which I'd done before twice. I love this area, but it takes a toll on the body.
Noah (Oregon) - Aug 5, 2020 4:30 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2020
Not the easiest mountain I've climbed
This was an interesting experience. We climbed Napeequa Peak the day before (12 hours on our feet that day), so I wasn't feeling my best when I crawled out of my bivy sack. The good news is that getting to Buck Mountain* seemed to be the hardest part of the trip. We had little difficulty picking our way through the steep hiking, snow fields and scrambling on Buck itself.
* We hiked up Buck Creek Trail, camped at Buck Creek Pass, then climbed Napeequa on day two and pushed over a high ridge (don't ask me how/where) to get to the Louis Creek Basin from which we climbed Buck. Oof. Getting home was just as hard.
Matt Lemke - Mar 9, 2019 9:08 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2018
Traverse from Buck Creek Pass, down the east face
Together with Fortress on a beautiful late summer loop. My 99th Bulger, Josh's 100th!
Mike Lewis - Aug 29, 2014 3:16 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2014
Not the easy way
Circumnavigated the mountain from Little Giant Pass to Buck Pass. Some parts of the approach (Louis Creek) scared me but I didn't have to go back the same way so I bucked up. Much respect to anyone who can do this peak.
A buddy and I tried the route from Trinity. We found the campsite on the northeast shoulder of Cleator at 5800 feet and the beginnings of the trail into the basin between Buck, Berge, and Cleator, but we never got past the east shoulder of Berge. Waterfalls and cliffs and very very thick brush.
A partner and I made an attempt on the NE face route. We got to the lake with little problems (Bushwhacking shenanigans aside) and set up camp. The route went really well until we tried to get onto the upper slopes. We took a crappy gully with loose rock and sketchy class 5 climbing. We had to turn back no more than 100 vertical feet from the summit. This sucks because now I have to go back, and I really don’t want to, oh well!
Siracusan - Jul 31, 2023 1:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2023
From trinityWe had planned on a high traverse from high pass to clark and out, but on the top of Napeequa got the weather forecast for monday rain and bailed from that and did Buck. Napeequa has great views! went down and over cleator ridge and set up camp and proceeded to climb buck and come down in sunset. Out the shoulder route on monday morning, which I'd done before twice. I love this area, but it takes a toll on the body.
Noah (Oregon) - Aug 5, 2020 4:30 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2020
Not the easiest mountain I've climbedThis was an interesting experience. We climbed Napeequa Peak the day before (12 hours on our feet that day), so I wasn't feeling my best when I crawled out of my bivy sack. The good news is that getting to Buck Mountain* seemed to be the hardest part of the trip. We had little difficulty picking our way through the steep hiking, snow fields and scrambling on Buck itself.
* We hiked up Buck Creek Trail, camped at Buck Creek Pass, then climbed Napeequa on day two and pushed over a high ridge (don't ask me how/where) to get to the Louis Creek Basin from which we climbed Buck. Oof. Getting home was just as hard.
Matt Lemke - Mar 9, 2019 9:08 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2018
Traverse from Buck Creek Pass, down the east faceTogether with Fortress on a beautiful late summer loop. My 99th Bulger, Josh's 100th!
Mike Lewis - Aug 29, 2014 3:16 am Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2014
Not the easy wayCircumnavigated the mountain from Little Giant Pass to Buck Pass. Some parts of the approach (Louis Creek) scared me but I didn't have to go back the same way so I bucked up. Much respect to anyone who can do this peak.
relic - Sep 18, 2011 12:58 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2008
From TrinityCamped at King Lake, that alone was worth the trip. Long, clock-wise circuitous trip to the high sw basin, then up to summit.
polarjud - Aug 16, 2010 8:16 pm
Damnably difficultA buddy and I tried the route from Trinity. We found the campsite on the northeast shoulder of Cleator at 5800 feet and the beginnings of the trail into the basin between Buck, Berge, and Cleator, but we never got past the east shoulder of Berge. Waterfalls and cliffs and very very thick brush.
jordansahls - Jul 18, 2008 10:27 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2008
Shit!A partner and I made an attempt on the NE face route. We got to the lake with little problems (Bushwhacking shenanigans aside) and set up camp. The route went really well until we tried to get onto the upper slopes. We took a crappy gully with loose rock and sketchy class 5 climbing. We had to turn back no more than 100 vertical feet from the summit. This sucks because now I have to go back, and I really don’t want to, oh well!