Bailey Range Traverse,  Olympic National Park,  Jul 26, 2007 - Aug 1, 2007     page 44 / 97

Incidentally, after our trip, I exchanged a few emails with another Bailey Range veteran to find that, despite the difficulty that this route to Cream Lake brings, it is the easiest route there and it is reliable.

Since my initial review of this trip in 2007, I have received dozens of emails regarding the Bailey traverse. Two writers familiar with the area, Scott Weaver and Paul Sendek, each described a preferred route down to Cream Lake, much easier than the route Tom and I followed down the hill. From the 5000-foot level, they suggested working upward, following game trails across the base of a high meadow. Continue southeastward along the base of a rock face, and along the base of a second meadow. At the far side of the second meadow, before the game trail peters out, proceed downward toward Lower Cream Lake. (See photo from Mr. Sendek, April 2011. High route is shown in yellow.)