10,400 foot Warren Peak
Terrain Distance (approx): 11 miles (rt)
Climbing Distance: 4,236 feet
Highest Altitude: 10,400 feet
Trip Time: 9 hours
Difficulty: strenuous with bushwhack
The trail come to another called the Highline Trail. Just before we reached this junction we ran into a Ranger and I have to tell you she was pretty tuff. I guess the hikers that we meet said that she is pretty well known for keeping track of these parts.
The Highline Trail begins to climb scree and finally you leave this trail and head right towards Edith Lake. Wild flowers become thick and the forest reminds me of an Oregon Forest ... lush with wooden walk ways.
Popping out at Edith Lake we were treated to immense beauty of the Pintlars. This area is rugged but cut with lush beauty all around. The rest is bushwhacking. We headed for a green grassy area on the edge of scree but also near a drainage. It is pretty noticeable from the lake.
Once upon the grassy area and up the scree we reached the saddle between Warren Peak and its ridge line high point on the Western side.
The views are grand and the rest of the climb is wide open. I recommend going to the right around the base of the rock climbs. It is easy going and the wild flowers are awesome. Once around the rocky nub and back onto the ridge you can see the summit awaiting. It started to thunder
I took off up to the summit because I though everyone was headed back due to the pending lightening storm. Lighting on a ridge is dangerous and real scary.
As I neared the top I noticed that two people Paul and Ethan out of the three left in our party took to the summit also. I waited for them and we all summited together.
The trip back to the car it rained, thundered, and I saw flashes of lightening. As it started to rain hard I just put my head down and hike out as fast as I could. It was a long and strenuous hike out.
After at the car we celebrated with beer and corn chips. What a magnificent climb.
I give this hike 5 stars!