Budd Lake to Echo Lake tips

[bethmitchell]

Hi! I'm heading out on a few day trip in the Cathedral Lakes area, starting tomorrow morning (Thurs 6/16). My permit is for Budd Creek and the plan is to spend the first night at Echo Lake. I've read various descriptions but am still not entirely understanding how to find the best route from Budd Lake to Echo Lake, avoiding steep granite (and especially avoiding steep and snow-covered!). Any tips? I'd also welcome any info on recent conditions in that area. I know to expect cold and windy over the weekend. Thanks! Beth

[c9h13no3]

The easiest way to Echo lake would be to go around Echo Peaks to the west. But at that point, you might as well follow the trail to Cathedral Pass. The cross country travel in that region isn't difficult.

Wilts Col is really just a climber's access route to the Echo Peaks, but it can take you to Echo Lake with some extra elevation gain and a healthy dose of sand and some slabs to avoid.

[wildhiker]

Check out the report of my trip last year at
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22067
My first day was up Budd Creek and over a low ridge to Cathedral Pass area, and then down the creek to Echo Lakes.

-Phil

[balzaccom]

I did ask the rangers about this the last time they issued me a permit....and they discouraged me from this approach. They said that it "violated the spirit" of the xc permit. Whatever that means.

The recommended route takes you past Budd Lake, and then to the saddle immediately west of Echo Peaks. It's obvious when you are there. Once past the saddle, contour around and veer well off to the east where you can access the easier slopes across the small tributary to Echo Creek. That slope is an easy hike. Don't go directly from the saddle to Echo Lake, as it gets pretty steep and sketchy. But once you turn to the east, It's a cakewalk.

[balzaccom]

The fifth photo in this TR shows both the steep granite to avoid, as well as the slope off to the right (in this photo) that's an easy route down to the lake

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11440

[bethmitchell]

Hi balzaccom / wildhiker / c9h13no3 - I know this is many months later, but I just wanted to say thanks for the tips! This was a great trip. We ended up relying on Gaia more than expected to find Budd Lake, but we got there with daylight to spare.