Alpine Scramble - Mount Deception

(Thanks Amrbose for writing an amazing leader notes for the same trip a month from now!)

This trip is not open for scrambling or climbing students, considering the mileage and the steepness of the slope. Honeymoon couloir goes up to 45-50' slope. Two ice axes and automatic crampons required.

The plan is to hike in and camp out at Upper Royal Basin on Saturday and have an alpine start to climb Mount Deception on Sunday. We will go up the direct route Honeymoon couloir which is much direct route, but it is steep climbing for sustained 600-800 feet. The climbing is steep, could be icy and exposed. 

Recent trip report: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report-2026-04-26.120402773974

Photos: 

• https://www.instagram.com/p/DXmkpIvlBP_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• https://www.instagram.com/p/DXo_VQBFInK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Please do not contact or request permission until registration opens. This isn't a good first trip for basic climbing students and scrambling students, please only request to sign up if you have experience with long backpacks/scrambles. Your fitness and gear need to be dialed in for a roundtrip total of 35 miles and 8k in elevation gain over 2 days. When requesting leader permission, please share with me your level of recent conditioning and backcountry camping experience.  Please also include your experience traveling on steep snow and exposed rock scrambling terrain. This is definitely a trip you need to be training for.

There will be a fee for one night of backcountry camping in Olympic NP. The leader will secure the group camping permit at Upper Royal Basin, and everyone is expected to pitch in to share the cost.

Upper Dungeness Trailhead (9AM). You will need a NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass to park at this trailhead