The Mountaineers were surprised to be alone when they disembarked at Lavender. It was an isolated siding between Easton and Cle Elum at an elevation of 2,100’ in Eastern Washington. There were no buildings, and no one was there to greet them. Their heap of luggage and boxes of supplies at the trailhead looked out of place. Fortunately, 6 packers and 29 horses appeared in a cloud of dust within a half hour.

Eager to be on their way, the party left all dunnage in the hands of the packers. At first they passed through flat and arid land as they headed south toward Manastash Ridge, the high ground dividing the Yakima and Naches River watersheds. A stop was made for lunch at the first stream crossing.

The trail followed Granite Creek Canyon through forested terrain to the headwaters of Tanenum Creek. There the party chose the site for camp #1. They were 10 miles from the Lavender siding, at an elevation of about 4,500’. Packers, horses and belongings had not yet arrived. A hot meal would wait until the next day.