snowking mountain - 7433' - east ridge class 2
july 2022
This was a fun peak that I did with my friend Kelly and a third friend of hers. Being early July when we went, there was still a lot of snow to contend with. Heading up the trail from the end of the drivable road we hit continuous snow at about 4800 feet elevation, and continued to follow the ridge separating the Found Lakes basin and the Mutchler Creek valley. A handful of ups and downs needed to be crossed before we reached the 5560 foot saddle immediately south of Point 5860, just a short ways above the eastern edge of Cyclone Lake. Here I found a dry patch to set up my bivy for the night, while Kelly was able to pitch her tent on a broad flat area of snow.
I decided I wanted to summit for the sunset, so I went solo up the remaining 1800 feet up the broad ridge and reached the summit an hour later. I was able to watch most of the sunset as the afternoon turned to dusk, and made a quick run back to the camp before dark. Kelly would make the summit push the following morning while I slept in. Only the final 100 feet involved a steeper section of snow, but did not exceed 40 degrees, and I was able to just kick steps since the snow had been softened. Kelly reached the summit the next morning and we were able to hike down and make it back to Seattle by mid afternoon.
I decided I wanted to summit for the sunset, so I went solo up the remaining 1800 feet up the broad ridge and reached the summit an hour later. I was able to watch most of the sunset as the afternoon turned to dusk, and made a quick run back to the camp before dark. Kelly would make the summit push the following morning while I slept in. Only the final 100 feet involved a steeper section of snow, but did not exceed 40 degrees, and I was able to just kick steps since the snow had been softened. Kelly reached the summit the next morning and we were able to hike down and make it back to Seattle by mid afternoon.
Map of the normal route up Snowking
