McDonald Mountain Snowshoe

I Parked at the blue gate at the turn on the far east end of Kent-Kangley Road. The logging road seems to have been converted to trail for just the first half mile before it reverts back to an extensive branched logging road system. The ground was dusted with frosty snow right away.


Shortly after turning left at the first fork I found a dirt bike trail on the right that cut the first and largest switchback on the route. About 1/4 mile later I entered a large opening where the snow had become deep enough to put on snowshoes. The sun had just risen and I could see distant alpenglow on the Olympics, Mount Baker, and Teneriffe Ridge.


There were two sets of snowshoe tracks from a few inches ago, which took a different route on the NE side of the ridge and continued to the main summit and another two sets made since the last dusting which stopped in a second clearing filled with logging debris . From there I bushwhacked up a steep bank to rejoin the road and and took a small detour up the NW peak with just over 200' of prominence on the way to the top.


The main summit provides a view to the West and Southwest. This just barely misses Mount Rainier, but there are several places where it is visible from the road. I did not have time to continue to the other two 200'+ peaks but I have read that the next one in line has much more extensive views.

The trip back uneventful and mostly painless besides a few sunny sections where I carried several pounds of wet, sticky snow with me in each step. This is a great trip for breaking in your snowshoes with it's relatively low grade and killer views.
12 miles round trip ~3500' elevation gain 4 hours up 2 hours down Sunny skies all day

Snowshoe to Red Mountain Summit

While most of Washington was at home watching the playoff game, I decided to tackle Red Mountain near Salmon La Sac. I failed to reach this summit last spring after a long loop from Thorp Mountain, and a few weeks ago due to deep powder and a lack of snowshoes. Third time is the charm.



The thermometer in my car read 5 degrees when I parked on Salmon La Sac road where it meets Road 46. The Forest road was recently groomed for winter recreation and closed to wheeled vehicles, which added 2 miles to the round trip but at least snowshoes were not necessary for the road walk. There was not a cloud in the sky and from the bridge I had a perfect view of Davis Peak and Mount Daniels.



My planned route started at the summer trail after the last big creek, in order to avoid any potentially hazardous crossing. Beyond the road there was a thin surface crust over 3-4 inches of powder and a solid layer of consolidated snow beneath that. I found occasional relief from the trail-breaking under the canopy of the larger trees where their melt-off provided a firm footing.



Above 4500' the surface firmed up and Mount Stuart rose into view behind Jolly Mountain and Sasse Mountain to the East. About 200' below the summit the sun disappeared behind a high layer of clouds and that was the last I saw of it until I returned to Renton. This made for a cold summit visit, and so I didn't stay long after pictures and a snack.



Most of Mount Adams was visible over the Rainier foothills and I could even see Mount Baker far to the North behind Cathedral Rock. This was the first time I am certain that I was looking at Mount Hinman as well as Mount Daniels, both of which I hope to visit this year.



The descent was quick and painless plunge-stepping through sun softened powder. We didn't see a soul on the mountain until we were passed by a few snowmobiles down at the road. What an amazing day in the Cascades!
 

It's not always sunny on Philadelphia 1-11-2013

Having just recovered from an injury and looking to avoid any avalanche danger on Friday, I wanted to find a moderate snowshoe day trip. With clear skies in the forecast, there would have to be views and of course I was also looking for a summit I had yet to visit. Philadelphia Mountain off of Highway 2 fit the bill.





I missed the sunrise under a thick fog on hwy 522 and pulled into the Lake Serene trailhead parking lot at 815.There were two inches of snow at the trailhead and around 3 or 4 feet at the summit of Philadelphia Mountain.The first mile of trail follows an old road and the few inches of inconsistent snow is fairly well packed. Just before the junction to Bridal Veil Falls fresh powder begin to obscure all but the occasional hint of a trail, and my lack of familiarity with the area provided several minor route-finding challenges on the way to Lake serene.




I donned snow shoes to cross the open snow field just before the lake, which was frozen over and covered in a solid blanket of snow. As I made the remainder of the ascent a light fog would periodically roll over the top of Mount Index and into the basin, obscuring the sun add it approached the ridge. I was pleased to find several small sections of cascade concrete, the first I've seen of it this year. I reached the summit in just over 5 hours breaking trail add a moderate pace.





I could see that the sun would be setting behind Mount Index shortly so I could leave changed into a fresh pair of socks and hurried down, stopping shortly at a small opening to attempt some pictures of Frozen Mountain through the trees and the clouds. I noticed a set of footprints in my trench that seems to have turned around just before the lake .






After crossing the snow field I passed a solo hiker on his way up who was stoked to hear that he would make the lake with some daylight left. So if anyone is interested in visiting the area this weekend, there is a decent trench to Lake Serene, and a round trip of tracks to Philadelphia Mountain by one pair of snowshoes and groomed by one squatty dog.








Click here to view a map of my route

First summit of 2013: South Bessemer Peak

I am normally willing to drive over the pass on any day for a better chance at sunshine, but today I kind of wanted to stay closer to home. I've been holding off on Bessemer Mountain until I could get some snowshoes or a bike to add some excitement to the long road walk, so after reading up on the main summit and considering the snow conditions, I made plans to head up to South Bessemer Peak and then to Moolock Mountain before returning to the car.


Snow appeared on the Middle Fork Road before the pavement ends and was steady enough for snowshoes just past the Mining operation about a mile from the trailhead. It rained steady all the way to the summit, never quite turning to snow which meant my rain gear lost nearly all breath-ability. The heavy slush stuck to my snowshoes and caused a few extra inches of sinkage. No big deal, I don't mind a challenge but when I soaked through my last pair of socks and my toes began to go numb a few hundred feet below the summit I decided I would have to return for Moolock another day.


Just like my trip up Green Mountain to the south it was completely socked-in by low clouds and the only short sunbreaks came  just before I returned to the trailhead. I can't complain though because I was blessed with a great vantage point on Russian Butte and Revolution Peak. A fairly uneventful trip and much wetter than I prefer, but I was glad to get out all the same and Automahn got a great workout shouldering through the slush.