Welcome to the Mt. Catherine winter scramble! This trip is an 8 mile and 2,600ft elevation gain day with potential for excellent views of the neighboring peaks in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area east of Snoqualmie Pass. Because the days are still plenty short, we should plan on an early start, arriving at out starting point near the Hyak ski parking area (exit 54 off of I-90) by 6:45AM with a plan to be walking shortly after 7am. Google maps indicates about 60 miles and 1 hr drive time fro... More

Welcome to the Mt. Catherine winter scramble! This trip is an 8 mile and 2,600ft elevation gain day with potential for excellent views of the neighboring peaks in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area east of Snoqualmie Pass. Because the days are still plenty short, we should plan on an early start, arriving at out starting point near the Hyak ski parking area (exit 54 off of I-90) by 6:45AM with a plan to be walking shortly after 7am. Google maps indicates about 60 miles and 1 hr drive time from the 65th P&R so those interested in carpooling should plan on meeting at 5:40AM. Also, if there are other carpool meeting places that make more sense than the 65th P&R please email this group with suggestions on carpool meeting place alternatives. We’ll park at the hairpin turn on Snoqualmie Drive. For those unfamiliar with this location, take exit 54 from I-90 and turn right on WA-906 / Hyak Dr E, and then another right on SE Snoqualmie Pkwy and stop a short distance at the hairpin turn. Probably wouldn’t hurt to have a National Forest Parking Pass just in case. Please bring: • ice axe • mountaineering snow shoes with aggressive teeth • helmet • one shovel & probe per four people • 10 essentials for winter travel (plenty of layers). • There’s always a chance we’ll be walking out in near darkness, so make certain you have a functioning headlamp with fresh batteries and spares. Group gear we’ll distribute at the TH includes: • Rope • Stove • Shovels / probes • Sleeping bag, bivvy, and insulation layer (I’ll carry these) We will start at the hairpin turn at 2,750 ft elevation (or so) on the Snoqualmie Pass USGS quad. We’ll walk west (more-or-less) to Hyak Lake (3,500 ft elevation) and then we’ll take a south-westerly baring to Frog Lake (3,500 ft elevation). From there we’ll adjust our baring a little further south heading for Nordic Pass (4,000 ft elevation), and then we’ll work around to the north-west facing ridge (passing by the north facing ridge) and that will lead us to the summit of Mt. Catherine (5,050 ft elevation). Please call or email with questions, Bill (206) 852 3008 (mobile)

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