Mount Regan

Published on 2025-8-1 by Michael Stanton

MountainProject link to the route

Since our first hike in the range 3 weeks before, Steve and I had been impressed by Mt. Regan. Between separate travel plans, we had a day to hike up that peak with a good weather forecast. We'd hike the Southeast Ridge, which promised 2000 vertical feet of off-trail travel and a bit of 4th class scrambling at the summit.

Steve approaches Sawtooth Lake, with Mount Regan behind

Mount Regan, now getting sunlight filtered through forest smoke

We started hiking from the Iron Creek Trailhead at 6 am, slightly dismayed by clouds in the sky. Within an hour, we could smell smoke, and noted a brown haze in the air with some alarm. As we approached Sawtooth Lake, some backpackers coming out told us the smoke was a surprise to them as well. Oh well, we thought we'd just continue until something stops us.

At the lake, Steve took off, having earned a fitness bonus over the last week with Ever in Tahoe. We met again below lake 8271, where we crossed the stream and started contouring up the hill to round the lower cliffs of the Southeast Ridge, here presenting as a rocky buttress. After a few minutes of this, we found an opening -- a broad gully less steep than surrounding cliffs. We started up here, using our hands occasionally and following our noses up and somewhat left to what appeared to be the ridge crest.

Our view to the summit from partway up the Southeast Ridge

A similar shot

Here, the way is clear...

This worked out well. Now we could hike steep terrain on or just left of the crest for several hundred feet. Higher, we rounded a rocky buttress on the left, seeing occasional faint signs of passage or use. Another 20 minutes or so brought us to a point below the final headwall to the summit. We'd read that we should follow a ledge around the right side of this for up to 50 feet, then turn up. Indeed, we found the ledge, and after checking out a few options, we picked a likely spot to head up.

After some nice scrambling, we came to a short (5 meters high) step of 5.0 climbing. This was quite fun. Above that, there were no further difficulties, and we stood on the summit after a few minutes.

Steve begins our chosen scrambling route below the summit

Michael at the short easy 5th class step

Steve comes up the step...

This is fun!

The sky was still hazy, but as we hung out on the summit a few minutes it began to improve. By the time we were back at the car, all traces of fire had disappeared. Very strange! The views were excellent. The summit log (in a "Smokey the Bear" lunch-box) recorded the last entry from a year ago, August 2024. Certainly some others had been up and simply failed to record their visit. It's useful to record your visits here for mountain rescue efforts. If you disappear down some strange gully, the note might be helpful!

Michael, well-pleased on the summit

Man with lake, a study

A pano-rama on top...

Steve keeps his eyes on our first Sawtooth summit, Observation Peak

Michael with lake

We descended easily enough, then quickly reversed the hiking part of the route. I came to some grief in the broad gully, preferring to stick close to rock walls and downclimb steeper rock rather than take my chances tip-toeing down the steep scree. This takes a good bit longer. Eventually, however, I could rejoin Steve's scree route.

Steve descends...

Michael, in action pose

I got some water at the creek, then we rejoined the trail. I met Steve again briefly at Sawtooth Lake and encouraged him to go check out the pass leading to the McGown Lakes, as the most inspiring view of Mt. Regan can be found there. He was so fast, he'd still catch me on the descent. He did that, and I listened to some podcasts as I descended. My legs and feet were oddly sore. Somehow, the day had taken a lot out of me. By the time I reached the car (again, with Steve out in front), I felt quite bad. Oh well, sometimes that is how it is.

Thanks to Steve and the mountain, another great peak visited!

A mountain that attracted our attention on the approach for possible new route work