Loomis, Washington

Activity: Backpacking

Date: August 16th & 17th, 2019

Distance: 11.5 miles, 3400’ elevation gain, overnight backpack approximately 8 hours of actual hiking, rated Difficult

Windy Peak is one of the ‘Top100” peaks in Washington. It stands at 8334’ in the Okanogan National Forest/Pasayten Wilderness Area. The Iron Gate Trail Head is best reached with a 4 wheel drive vehicle.

It is always great to share such a wonderful experience with others and I was invited to join my sister Peggy and her husband Dale on one of their favorite backpacking adventures, to Windy Peak.

The hike begins through tall green firs and advances to high meadows of green grass and abundant wild flowers, which surprised me, but actually different areas and altitudes have their bloom at different times. We moved through a burn area of scorched lodge pole pines that was making a come back with greenery and saplings taking hold and that was good to see.

The Iron Gate Trailhead is at 6000’ and we climbed 1000’ by the time we made Sunny Pass, a great place to take a load off, and refuel with some energy bars and other delectable snacks my sister had put together for the trip. We chatted with a friendly Forest Ranger, who was roaming the area, during our break. Then we once again hit the trail until we arrived at the spot Peggy and Dale love to camp at on this hike, Windy Lake.

What an enchanting little lake, with Windy Peak looming in the distance it was a marvelous site indeed. While going about our chores of setting up camp, and gathering fallen wood for a campfire, my sister pointed out a tree that had much of the bark rubbed off of it, which was a sign that this lake was a favorite watering hole for Moose. Speaking of wildlife, we did run into bedded down Deer, Blue Grouse, and a playful Marmot during our trek. Once we had a roaring fire going, we enjoy one of the hot homemade backpacking meals that my sister is famous for.

After a quiet slumber next to the picturesque lake, we broke camp and began our ascent to the Summit of Windy Peak. We traveled some four miles from the lake. The journey became steeper the closer we got. We ditched the heavy backpacks as we drew near, opting to bring one day back to carry snacks, water, and jackets to the peak, as we made the final assault. Once on top the view was mesmerizing vast and remote wilderness in every direction. Dale, who had returned to the Okanogan, his boyhood haunt, was very familiar with the area, and pointed out the many peaks and mountains near and far much to our delight.

We sat there drinking in as much of the peace and tranquility as we could before starting back down from Windy Peak, through the forests, the pass, and meadows back to civilization. What a great couple of days.