Ok. Headed to Washington again Oct 1-5. Reasoning is two-fold: forecasters are saying that El Niño means warm and dry for NW. Second, Oct 1 means no permits required.
Also, cost is right--flight and car to Seattle is $400
Anyway, done Rainier, Tatoosh, Olympics, some Noryh Cascades.
I was thinking of Alpine Lakes/Enchantments, Mt Stuart, possibly Baker, possibly Glacier, possibly North Cascades. Really leaning toward Alpine Lakes region
Anyway, suggestions? Washington is awesome, after all...
Many thanks!
Washington in October--Suggestions?
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steelfrog
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kaiman
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Re: Washington in October--Suggestions?
I don't have any suggestions as much as a word of warning. I was on Adams, Hood, and Mount Saint Helens in early July and Washington had a very bad snow year year last winter. Most of the glacier routes looked like they were melted out and the crevasses wide open. So you might consider sticking to the rock routes and off the glaciers because unless they get some significant snow between now and October, it will probably crevasse city on Baker and Glacier by then.
You might also try cascadeclimbers.com for suggestions. There are lots of folks on that site that climb almost exclusively in the Enchantments, North Cascades, and Alpine Lakes areas so they'll probably have some good suggestions.
My two cents,
Kai
You might also try cascadeclimbers.com for suggestions. There are lots of folks on that site that climb almost exclusively in the Enchantments, North Cascades, and Alpine Lakes areas so they'll probably have some good suggestions.
My two cents,
Kai
"I want to keep the mountains clean of racism, religion and politics. In the mountains this should play no role."
- Joe Stettner
"I haven't climbed Everest, skied to the poles, or sailed single-handed around the world. The goals I set out to accomplish aren't easily measured or quantified by world records or "firsts." The reasons I climb, and the climbs I do, are about more than distance or altitude, they are about breaking barriers within myself."
- Andy Kirkpatrick
- Joe Stettner
"I haven't climbed Everest, skied to the poles, or sailed single-handed around the world. The goals I set out to accomplish aren't easily measured or quantified by world records or "firsts." The reasons I climb, and the climbs I do, are about more than distance or altitude, they are about breaking barriers within myself."
- Andy Kirkpatrick
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steelfrog
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Re: Washington in October--Suggestions?
Thanks Kai. Good idea. I have a cascadeclimbers account so I'll ask there as well.
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shredthegnar10
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Re: Washington in October--Suggestions?
There's plenty of good scrambles in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness ... Cashmere Mountain and Dragontail Peak are both easy class 3. Unfortunately, overnight permits for the Enchantments are required until October 15, and while both of those are doable in one day, they make for a long one. I think they're both about 16 miles RT.
Black Peak off highway 20 is also another good scramble if you end up in the North Cascades. Another one that I haven't personally done, but heard good things about (it's on my list, just haven't gotten to it yet) is Tomyhoi Peak.
Black Peak off highway 20 is also another good scramble if you end up in the North Cascades. Another one that I haven't personally done, but heard good things about (it's on my list, just haven't gotten to it yet) is Tomyhoi Peak.
Most things worth doing are difficult, dangerous, expensive, or all three.
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steelfrog
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Re: Washington in October--Suggestions?
Yep bactually was able to get a permit, surprisingly. So, good to go. Although if I want to approach Stuart or Dragontail from the south, don't need a permit
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shredthegnar10
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Re: Washington in October--Suggestions?
Yeah, Stuart would be no problem. Personally, I'd rather do that as a snow climb, but then again I live here and can do that next spring, so... 
If you have a permit, Colchuck Lake is actually a really nice spot to camp, and you can climb Dragontail (and also Colchuck Peak, though I haven't done that so I can't speak to its difficulty) from there. Gear note: I'd bring a helmet for Cashmere. 90% of the climb is hiking and talus hopping, but there's a small traverse below and then up some gullies that can have some loose rock right before the summit.
If you have a permit, Colchuck Lake is actually a really nice spot to camp, and you can climb Dragontail (and also Colchuck Peak, though I haven't done that so I can't speak to its difficulty) from there. Gear note: I'd bring a helmet for Cashmere. 90% of the climb is hiking and talus hopping, but there's a small traverse below and then up some gullies that can have some loose rock right before the summit.
Most things worth doing are difficult, dangerous, expensive, or all three.
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LadyClimber
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Re: Washington in October--Suggestions?
The standard route on Colchuck is a nice outing. Snow up the col and then class 3 maybe a move or two of 4th. If you can climb 5th class Ingalls peak is really fun climb, its on the south side of Stuart and you start from the Snoqualmie Pass side.
