20.07.2019
Welch is a lot of scramble! You spend a lot of time (4hrs) on a ridge line working around bumps and features that are often very lose. I'd say this is leaning more towards an advanced scramble as route finding, lose rock, and exposure can add up. We did a loop ascending via the partial south ridge and descended via the long south ridge.
Access: 4x4 access only at this stage. There are major pot holes at the bottom, water bars, narrow sections around boulders, and lose pin head boulders near the upper lot.
The ascent to Williamson Lake is pretty straight forward through a steep forested and well marked trail. During the summer the meadows here bloom spectacular flowers and the black bears delight in berries in the upper grassy slopes.
If you want to ascend the partial south ridge (harder), climb the scree slope past the lake and turn left across the snow slopes. We used micro spokes and ice axes across the terrain cause it can get steep. We need to gain the rib and a note of warning it's very polished and slippery with a lot of lose rock. It does connect eventually but there is no path, not even cairns. You need to choose your own adventure along benches and weaknesses. As you do, you'll eventually reach the upper ridge which connects to the main trail. You'll notice a few cairns here to get you to the false sub-summit. From the sub-summit you'll need to drop down into the col and find a scramble up a mere 5-10m from the col. It's not obvious and the temptation is to go further around but don't, look for the ascent closest to the col.
There are definitely parts that will feel airy and exposed and lose. There is no rushing this hike, GO SLOW and don't slip. Test every handhold and stick to the ridge, it's the easiest way.
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