Oops, my bad. Yes, Scott, that basin is in Kittitas County. I don't pay
much attention to county lines when I'm in the mountains. : )

Just remembered that I have seen White-tailed Ptarmigan on the north
aspects slopes just below the N face of Chair Peak. One can get there via
an off-trail side hike from Snow Lake Trail.

FTR, the Middle Fork Road is blocked to motorized traffic at Dingford
Creek, which makes the route to Big Snow quite a bit longer. There are
other routes up Big Snow, all strenuous. OP can email about those if he's
interested. Take an ice axe for all routes.

--
Steve Loitz
Seattle, WA
steveloitz at gmail.com



On Mon, Jul 15, 2013 at 7:27 PM, Scott Downes <downess at charter.net> wrote:

> **
>
> Tim (and other Tweeters),
>
> Wanted to clarify the text made below in a recent post:
>
> "Your best bet via a day-hike trail may be the tarn-spotted alpine basin
>
> between Alta Mountain and Lila Lake. That area can be accessed via the
>
> Rachel Lake/Rampart Ridge trail, and then taking the informal trail N when
>
> you hit Rampart Ridge. I've seen ptarmigan in that basin, although it has
>
> been a few years. If you go there, be prepared for a workout. The crowds
>
> thin out after Rachel Lake."
>
>
>
> This area does have ptarmigan. I had an adult here last fall during my Kittitas County Big Year near the summit to Alta Mt. HOWEVER, the area is fully within Kittitas County, not King County.
>
>
>
> Scott Downes
>
> downess at charter.net
>
> Yakima WA
>
> <http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters>
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