Nice dayhike via the West Fork Buttermilk trail and the south ridge. Lots of downed trees and lots of talus!
IsaacBeQuiet - Jan 6, 2023 10:59 am Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2022
Buttermilk Traverse
Final ascent of my traverse of Courtney, Buttermilk Butte and Oval via Buttermilk Ridge.
What appeared to be the first light snowfall of the season lightly dusted the mountains the night before. As beautiful as the snow was on the surrounding peaks, it made for a very slippery journey.
Damour - Dec 11, 2019 10:23 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2019
Too much talus
From W Fork Buttermilk, climbed Courtney from Fish Creek Pass, traversed over Buttermilk Ridge and up the S ridge of Oval, then dropped off the E ridge. Had planned to do Star as well, but bailed due to time. Fantastic views, but I got my fill of talus for a while.
Brian Jenkins - Jul 31, 2017 11:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2017
Up south, down east
With Jim. Weaved our way up the south ridge starting at 5 am. Interesting views with the haze from the wildfires. Decided to head down the east ridge and nice sandy gully back to the lake afterwards before hiking out.
Josh Lewis - May 24, 2016 2:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2015
East Ridge
Mostly a walk, we started at around 11:30 a.m. and still had extra time. I suppose I could have made a run for Courtney and Star.
Mike Lewis - Oct 30, 2015 7:28 am Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2015
S ridge
boulder-y. warm. yellow.
Matt Lemke - Jul 26, 2015 2:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2015
Via the east ridge
Nice half-day hike up Oval Peak. Amazing how little snow there is this year. The east ridge is a fun walk and the bushwhacking was not too bad.
BKW - Jun 9, 2014 10:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2014
Spring Fling
Early June wasn't early enough to avoid the boulder hopping. The east ridge was bare and blocky. This climb reinforced the old adage "for the best view climb the ugly mountain"; the view really was fantastic.
ScrambledLeggs - Oct 30, 2012 9:11 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2012
Wish Slam
Climbed Star Peak, Courtney Peak and Oval Peak in the same day, and bivied atop Oval. INTENSE sunset/sunrise with 2012's wildfires!
belowfellow - Oct 28, 2012 4:05 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2012
lots of snow
long approach to Oval Lakes in tedious snow, but great views
gimpilator - Jul 2, 2012 12:04 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2012
Star, Courtney, Oval
Ryan and I climbed Star and Courtney the first day, starting from the West Buttermilk trail. We camped near Star Lake and did Oval the next morning. 32 hours round-trip. Lots of talus.
Andy Dewey - Oct 31, 2008 1:32 am Date Climbed: Oct 28, 2008
Route Climbed: South Ridge
Climbed Star, Buttermilk & Oval from camp at Star Lake. Awesome!
ericnoel - Aug 11, 2008 2:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2008
Oval
We took the South Ridge up and then went back down the East Ridge. Nice views but more than enough talus and boulders for my taste.
Just noticed I never signed this log for Oval Peak, one of my favorites because it's in our view from the kitchen window. The first time I climbed it with my husband, J, on September 14, 2002.
The next time I climbed it with my neighbor, Helen, on August 31,2004. You guys make it sound so easy, but for us gals (one with a breathing handicap, the other with fibromyalgia), this was a 14-hr "miraculous feat" of endurance, one of which we both remain quite proud. ;-)
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: July 16, 2005
Fun climb with Duane G. However, I discovered that cataracts make boulder hopping difficult since depth perception is greatly challenged when one of your eyes can't focus. I'm scheduled for cataract surgery on Aug. 1, so things should start getting better after that. Whatever you do, don't get old!!
metasyn11 - Sep 3, 2023 3:18 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2023
South ridge dayhikeNice dayhike via the West Fork Buttermilk trail and the south ridge. Lots of downed trees and lots of talus!
IsaacBeQuiet - Jan 6, 2023 10:59 am Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2022
Buttermilk TraverseFinal ascent of my traverse of Courtney, Buttermilk Butte and Oval via Buttermilk Ridge.
What appeared to be the first light snowfall of the season lightly dusted the mountains the night before. As beautiful as the snow was on the surrounding peaks, it made for a very slippery journey.
Damour - Dec 11, 2019 10:23 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2019
Too much talusFrom W Fork Buttermilk, climbed Courtney from Fish Creek Pass, traversed over Buttermilk Ridge and up the S ridge of Oval, then dropped off the E ridge. Had planned to do Star as well, but bailed due to time. Fantastic views, but I got my fill of talus for a while.
Brian Jenkins - Jul 31, 2017 11:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2017
Up south, down eastWith Jim. Weaved our way up the south ridge starting at 5 am. Interesting views with the haze from the wildfires. Decided to head down the east ridge and nice sandy gully back to the lake afterwards before hiking out.
Josh Lewis - May 24, 2016 2:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2015
East RidgeMostly a walk, we started at around 11:30 a.m. and still had extra time. I suppose I could have made a run for Courtney and Star.
Mike Lewis - Oct 30, 2015 7:28 am Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2015
S ridgeboulder-y. warm. yellow.
Matt Lemke - Jul 26, 2015 2:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2015
Via the east ridgeNice half-day hike up Oval Peak. Amazing how little snow there is this year. The east ridge is a fun walk and the bushwhacking was not too bad.
BKW - Jun 9, 2014 10:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2014
Spring FlingEarly June wasn't early enough to avoid the boulder hopping. The east ridge was bare and blocky. This climb reinforced the old adage "for the best view climb the ugly mountain"; the view really was fantastic.
ScrambledLeggs - Oct 30, 2012 9:11 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2012
Wish SlamClimbed Star Peak, Courtney Peak and Oval Peak in the same day, and bivied atop Oval. INTENSE sunset/sunrise with 2012's wildfires!
belowfellow - Oct 28, 2012 4:05 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2012
lots of snowlong approach to Oval Lakes in tedious snow, but great views
kevinsa - Sep 15, 2012 8:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2010
Oval PeakEasy scramble, simple routefinding, great views.
gimpilator - Jul 2, 2012 12:04 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2012
Star, Courtney, OvalRyan and I climbed Star and Courtney the first day, starting from the West Buttermilk trail. We camped near Star Lake and did Oval the next morning. 32 hours round-trip. Lots of talus.
Andy Dewey - Oct 31, 2008 1:32 am Date Climbed: Oct 28, 2008
Route Climbed: South RidgeClimbed Star, Buttermilk & Oval from camp at Star Lake. Awesome!
ericnoel - Aug 11, 2008 2:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2008
OvalWe took the South Ridge up and then went back down the East Ridge. Nice views but more than enough talus and boulders for my taste.
theplugger - Jul 26, 2006 8:53 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2002
East RidgeJust noticed I never signed this log for Oval Peak, one of my favorites because it's in our view from the kitchen window. The first time I climbed it with my husband, J, on September 14, 2002.
The next time I climbed it with my neighbor, Helen, on August 31,2004. You guys make it sound so easy, but for us gals (one with a breathing handicap, the other with fibromyalgia), this was a 14-hr "miraculous feat" of endurance, one of which we both remain quite proud. ;-)
dicey - Sep 4, 2005 1:47 pm
Route Climbed: via duffy lake Date Climbed: september 2003only saw one other person on Labor Day weekend!?!
Bob Bolton - Jul 18, 2005 1:32 am
Route Climbed: East Ridge Date Climbed: July 16, 2005Fun climb with Duane G. However, I discovered that cataracts make boulder hopping difficult since depth perception is greatly challenged when one of your eyes can't focus. I'm scheduled for cataract surgery on Aug. 1, so things should start getting better after that. Whatever you do, don't get old!!
Blakester - Feb 14, 2005 9:02 pm
Route Climbed: South Ridge Date Climbed: August '04Fun walk-up, some bouldering along the way. Part of a day of Sawtooths high-pointing.