Mount Pilchuck to Bathtub Lakes Traverse

I recently heard that one could run[1] from the summit of Mount Pilchuck to Bathtub Lakes. Below is a map, from which you can see a couple of obvious logistical implications:

1. The summit, the Pilchuck lookout, and the lakes are all at a high, similar elevation, so, you're going to need to go across to get there (not down, nor up, nor necessarily around).
2. There's a saddle adjacent to the summit (directly east), which connects the summit to the ridge. You'll need to get across that somehow.
3. The ridge is high (~5,000') and exposed. It looks tricky, likely a little dangerous.

I set about finding a GPX track and truth be told, there don't seem to be all that many. I found one on caltopo and put it onto my phone (via GaiaGPS). Also, I read some descriptions, like this great one from The Mountaineers, so I'd know what to expect .

Then I set off on my run, and while I did eventually make it to the lakes, I wanted to clarify a number of things in case someone else wanted to attempt this, and I also wanted to provide some route-finding advice.

• This trail is largely not runnable. The segments are as follows:
   
     ‑Mile 1 of the Mount Pilchuck trail: runnable.
     ‑Mile 1-2.5 to the Mount Pilchuck lookout: partially runnable.
     ‑Mile 2.5-3.5 to the Bathtub Lakes area: largely un-runnable.
   
  So if you're looking for a trail where 90% of it is running, this definitely isn't it. If you think of it as an "ironman" type trail, and/or a test of endurance, well, that'll get you a lot closer to the truth.
• It ends up with a lot of elevation gain. I measured approximately 3,300' by the time I was done, as follows:
   
  [There:]
  
   
     ‑To the lookup: ~2,100'
     ‑Up from the saddle to the east ridge: ~300'
  
   
  [Back:]
  
   
     ‑Up out of the lake basin: ~325'
     ‑Up to the top of the ridge: ~177'
     ‑Out of the saddle to the lookout: ~400'
  
• It really wasn't clear where to begin my descent to the saddle. There are a couple of [very dangerous] dead-end trails that go out onto a rocky promontory (south). There's a video below showing the correct path to follow.
• GPS alone isn't enough to navigate this one. The problem with GPS is that (a) it's not great on steep slopes and (b) it can be off by 10-16', which isn't great. You'll have to be comfortable with some [lite] topographical navigation[2].
• That said, please bring a GPX track. I've provided mine below, as well as one I found on the web that's legit[3]. GPX is helpful, and you'll need it for this one.
• On the ridge, periodically turn around and look at where you came from. The ridge is tricky, and when coming back, you don't want it to look all that unfamiliar.
• There are a lot of yellow dots on the rocky sections of the ridge trail. Use these, they're awesome. As a matter of fact, if you're on a rocky section, and you don't see a yellow dot, you're off-trail.
• I found that I needed to deploy ~40 pink ribbon trail-markers along the ridge trail to convince myself I could make it back. The trail is gnarly up there, and as a result has some super tricky turns/traverses/etc. I put these in strategic places as a guide on where to continue my return[4].
• My first traversal took a long time. Leave yourself some extra time.
• I brought 50oz of water with me but only consumed ~25oz on the way to the lakes. I made potable water at the lakes using a Katadyn filter. Either way, water is no problem, provided you make it to the lake area (read: there are no water sources).

I've long contemplated whether trail running is mostly a physical challenge, or whether it's mostly a mental challenge. I've gone back and forth, e.g: 50%:50% (physical:mental), 75%:25%, 60%:40%, etc.

I think this run solidified my conclusion: trail running is, ironically enough, mostly a mental challenge. Meaning, in order to trail run, you'll have more mental impediments to overcome than you will physical impediments.

I'm not saying that the physical demands aren't significant, but at the end of the day, if you pace yourself enough, and incrementally increase your leg muscle strength and cardio over time, you'll be able to run an awful lot of trails (after all, look at me / I'm out there doing stuff).

What doesn't seem to change[5] is the mental challenge. I always doubt myself before, and during, each run. I often have to convince myself to begin, and nearly always have to convince myself to continue. I have a monologue that I've employed dozens of times, sort of a little pep-talk, which usually begins "You are incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to do this, today, right now, in this moment."[6]

Speaking of mental exercises: one thing I noticed on this run was how helpful it was to "look past the lookout/summit" on this run. Meaning, the lookout is usually the destination, so I'm pretty sure that I calibrate my energy output accordingly (such that I've used up most of my energy right when I reach the lookout).

On this run, I kept telling myself "The lookout is just the ante today / You have a lot further to go after the lookout / This 1st leg has to be trivial when completed".

This made a huge difference for some reason. When I got to the lookout, I was immediately ready to continue, whereas normally, when I arrive at the lookout I'm completely exhausted and appreciate the time to rest while I'm taking photos.

And while we're on the subject of the mental challenges of trail running, here's one paradox of trail running: I never feel as physically out of shape as I do during a run (and therefore ashamed of ... well, everything about my current physical state) whereas I never feel more physically accomplished than after completing a trail run.

Most of this time will be spent getting you onto the ridge. I think the trail is follow-able after that (provided you read the "What I learned During My Initial Run" section that is)[7].

The Entry to the Saddle

Leaving the lookout, follow the trail for 50', then you'll see a fork (left/right). The right path is towards the trailhead. You'll take the left fork. Walk ~30-50'. You'll see a sandy camping spot 10' in front of you ... turn to your left, that's your ingress point to the saddle.

You'll be looking down a smooth, steep slope with a very faint boot-path.

Here's a 30-second video containing a description of where to go (movie should download when clicked). Also, here's a slightly less helpful video (also short) after I had found the proper trail.

Here's a photo with your approximate traversal penciled in:

The only tricky part during this first section is getting through the trees to the ridge. This is where navigating by topography will come in handy. You'll have to get a clear understanding of where you want to be on the ridge prior to entering the trees, and then just proceed until you hit the ridge. Any path will suffice, and I'd argue that there's no way to get lost because the contours of the ridge and mountain leave only one path.

The Ridge

Once you're on the ridge, follow the yellow [brick] dots. You'll see these on the rocky sections.

The ridge is, while not straightforward, navigable. It's mostly short sections over rocks, then through trees, then over exposed sections. There are some twists and turns for sure, but it's only 0.95 miles from the lookout to the Bathtub Lakes area.

As far as running is concerned, only the last 0.2 miles is actually runnable (and where it is runnable, it's lovely).

Here's a 30-second video from the initial ridge section (movie should download when clicked). And here's a 30-second video from the middle of the ridge.

Some GPX Tracks

Here are 3 GPX tracks, from the lookout to the lakes area:

If you put all three of these onto a map, this is what you'll see:

I'm not sure what's going on with the red path, where it deviates on the ridge, but I am sure whatever trail that it joins back up with the trail I ran, as there's really only one path across that ridge.

I do hope this helps (I know it would have helped me quite a bit). In the end, I measured 7.5 miles of distance and approximately 3,358' of elevation gain. It makes no sense at all for me to include time and/or pace data, and I had a [literal] 41 minute mile in there where I spent most of my time wandering around being lost.

If I had to make a rough time estimate, it would look like so:

That's 190 minutes or 3 hours, 10 minutes[8].

Here are a couple of photos from my run, which, in a not-so-subtle nod to the late author DFW, is a Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Definitely Do Again.

From approximately 0.2 miles along the ridge, looking back

The initial view of the Bathtub Lakes

The smaller of the first pair of lakes

Some lovely reflective symmetry

My Topo™ next to a pool of crystal clear water

The larger of the two initial lakes

The path just after you emerge from the lake basin (it's lovely)

Near the middle of the ridge, looking back towards the lakes area

You'll see Heather Lake, 3,000' below, from the ridge

Looking towards my eventual destination, back on terra firma

Just before descending into the saddle, there's another trail down and to the left, across the lower face of the Pilchuck summit block

From the lookout, the familiar (and somewhat menacing) east view