FKT: Madeleine Campbell, Scott Campbell - Oval Peak (WA) - 2021-09-05

We ascended Oval Peak as a one-day trip on September 5, 2021, starting and ending at West Fork Buttermilk Trailhead.  The weather was spectacular.  The trail section, on the West Fork Buttermilk trail for the first and last 4.7 miles or so, was clear of blowdowns and relatively dry that late in season. The key to the cross-country section from the trail up to the lake at ~7000' was picking as brush-free and blowdown-free route as possible. From the lake (where we watered up) to the summit is open country, then relatively gentle slopes of choss and boulders. Columns of smoke from forest fires across Lake Chelan added a sobering note to the day. 7 hours and 25 minutes car to car.