Snoqualmie Mountain
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Nothing like a Wednesday evening snow scramble to break up the work week! This one was tough and, spoiler alert, we didn't make it to the summit. But the sunset Cascade views at 5,500 feet were worth every step that we did take!
On this day, I met up with the Mountaineers group at the Alpental parking lot at Snoqualmie Pass for the evening snow scramble. Snoqualmie Mountain is short, but incredibly steep - that is 3,100 feet of elevation gain in about 1.5 miles UP. There was very little prior boot path made in the snow, so our group kicked a lot of steps and navigated ourselves through the steep forest terrain. We crossed a snow bridge under a small waterfall - give it a few weeks of warmer temperatures and that waterfall/stream will be raging.
We eventually hit a ridgeline which we could ascend all the way up to the summit of the mountain. Once we climbed above the tree line, and out onto the exposed mountain side, the wind really picked up. We reached a false summit about half a mile and 800 vertical feet from the true summit. Due to the approaching darkness and some vicious wind gusts, we stopped to regroup and decided it was best to turn back towards the trailhead. But, of course, not before soaking in the beautiful sunset (and freezing cold and windy) views.
Not a bad way to spend a Wednesday evening I'd say. I pinch myself all the time - thankful that I live in a place where I get to do this as a mid-week, after work excursion!
On this day, I met up with the Mountaineers group at the Alpental parking lot at Snoqualmie Pass for the evening snow scramble. Snoqualmie Mountain is short, but incredibly steep - that is 3,100 feet of elevation gain in about 1.5 miles UP. There was very little prior boot path made in the snow, so our group kicked a lot of steps and navigated ourselves through the steep forest terrain. We crossed a snow bridge under a small waterfall - give it a few weeks of warmer temperatures and that waterfall/stream will be raging.
We eventually hit a ridgeline which we could ascend all the way up to the summit of the mountain. Once we climbed above the tree line, and out onto the exposed mountain side, the wind really picked up. We reached a false summit about half a mile and 800 vertical feet from the true summit. Due to the approaching darkness and some vicious wind gusts, we stopped to regroup and decided it was best to turn back towards the trailhead. But, of course, not before soaking in the beautiful sunset (and freezing cold and windy) views.
Not a bad way to spend a Wednesday evening I'd say. I pinch myself all the time - thankful that I live in a place where I get to do this as a mid-week, after work excursion!