Buck Mt. Climbing

Buck Mt. can be approached several ways; the north face is approached by way of the rugged south fork of Avalanche Cyn, the southern and western routes by the Skyline Trail over Static Pk and the "No-Wood" basin. The popular eastern routes are accessed via Stewart Draw as follows:
Hike up the Death Canyon Trail about 3/4 mile until just before the 3rd footbridge. A faint trail (recently relocated) branches off to the right. After a short section through the trees, you begin climbing NW through a large meadow. Continue northward along the base of the foothills, crossing several forested ridges and small streams, navigating confusing detours and horse paths. Stay west and out-of-sight of the main stream from Stewart Draw until the trail veers west into the lower draw. There, you finally cross the main stream near a house-sized boulder. Then the easily-followed trail takes a westerly direction, by-passing a headwall to the north, and eventually reaching a campsite on the east edge of a verdant meadow. From the stream intersection in the meadow, the best progress is made by crossing the northern stream and ascending the wide talus slope to the north around the headwall and then following slabs, talus, scree and boulders west, aiming for Timberline Lake located between Static Pk and Buck Mt.