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I have been in a very fun deep dive of adventure planning for the state of Washington this summer, but I'm finding myself entirely overwhelmed and struggling to pin down a final shortlist of peaks I'd like to climb, and was hoping to find some insight from anyone familiar with climbing in Washington.

I'll probably have the following:
One weekend in the vicinity of the Olympic Peninsula
One weekend in the vicinity of North Cascades National Park
Two other weekends in Washington, unaccounted for. Was imagining a trip into Mt Rainier NP would be worthwhile, if there is a non-glaciated fun peak to climb. Have also heard good things about the Pasayten and Goat Rocks wilderness though. North Cascades might warrant two weekends.

Anyone have a hike/scramble/climb they'd recommend for someone to show off the best scenery or most fun peakbagging? I like long days, welcome overnights or day trips, and I'm up for anything from class 1 to the easier side of class 4. I am SOLO and have no glacier travel confidence. I have several guidebooks with dozens of tabbed pages so any personalized suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

No glaciers and nothing harder than easy 4th cuts down the options quite a bit in the North Cascades. Some of the old fire lookout peaks are good, e.g. Crater and Pugh, as well as some stuff on the east side like Robinson, Maude, and Gardner. I'd skip Rainer, since the other peaks in the park are choss.

Are you confident with non-roped snow travel (crampons and an ice axe)? That would open up a lot of options. Also, when will you be there? Colchuck was a pretty cool peak but you’d want to hit it on the earlier side for best, safer conditions. Also, south spur on Mount Adams, Mount Saint Helen’s and Mount Hood are all non-technical climbs (do not involve roped glacier travel). Also, I feel like there are a lot more options in Oregon for what you are looking for. For example: https://www.summitpost.org/west-ridge/155580

seano wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:10 pm No glaciers and nothing harder than easy 4th cuts down the options quite a bit in the North Cascades. Some of the old fire lookout peaks are good, e.g. Crater and Pugh, as well as some stuff on the east side like Robinson, Maude, and Gardner. I'd skip Rainer, since the other peaks in the park are choss.

That's good to know about the other peaks in Rainier, and I'll look into the peaks listed. Thanks!

Wildernessjane wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:32 pm Are you confident with non-roped snow travel (crampons and an ice axe)? That would open up a lot of options. Also, when will you be there? Colchuck was a pretty cool peak but you’d want to hit it on the earlier side for best, safer conditions. Also, south spur on Mount Adams, Mount Saint Helen’s and Mount Hood are all non-technical climbs (do not involve roped glacier travel). Also, I feel like there are a lot more options in Oregon for what you are looking for. For example: https://www.summitpost.org/west-ridge/155580

I'm open to Oregon as well - that does look fun. I'll be there in August, and while I do technically have the knowledge and experience for snow travel I haven't practiced much the last few years.

Codyhill1991 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 9:58 am

Wildernessjane wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2024 5:32 pm Are you confident with non-roped snow travel (crampons and an ice axe)? That would open up a lot of options. Also, when will you be there? Colchuck was a pretty cool peak but you’d want to hit it on the earlier side for best, safer conditions. Also, south spur on Mount Adams, Mount Saint Helen’s and Mount Hood are all non-technical climbs (do not involve roped glacier travel). Also, I feel like there are a lot more options in Oregon for what you are looking for. For example: https://www.summitpost.org/west-ridge/155580

I'm open to Oregon as well - that does look fun. I'll be there in August, and while I do technically have the knowledge and experience for snow travel I haven't practiced much the last few years.

Fyi - I wouldn’t recommend Colchuck that late in the season. We did it late July one year and had to navigate ice in the couloir and bad rock fall.

Hikes I have done in Washington (did several trips out there in summer when I lived in Vermont about 20 years ago): North Cascades: Hannegan Peak, sourdough lookout, Hidden Lake Peak and lookout. Olympics: Mt Townsend. Mt Rainier NP: Shriner Peak, Plummer Peak. There are a couple in the central cascades that are just hikes, but I will be damned if I can remember the name of the one I did, I just recall it was very nice. I recommend the books by the Mountaineers, X hikes in Y region. There is a series of these. X=50 or 100. I consider the Hidden Lake Peak hike among my all time favorites.

I second looking into some fire tower peaks. It's been a minute since I lived in WA so can't vouch for what's still open/around/not rotted into the ground, so you'd have to do your own research. Expect anything in the Olympics to be steep and wet, and the Cascades the same but to a lesser degree.

Highly recommend Trappers Peak in the North Cascades. Mostly trail with an easy short bit of Class 3. Amazing views from the top.