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Colchuck & Dragontail Peaks

Trip

Basic Alpine Climb - Colchuck & Dragontail Peaks

Activity date and objective(s) highly dependent on weather and snow conditions. Basic Alpine Climbing graduate minimum requirement. Requests to join prior to the activity opening date will be ignored.

Contacts

Will Tooker
Will Tooker
Primary Leader
  • Sat, Apr 19, 2025 — Sun, Apr 20, 2025
  • Tacoma Basic Alpine Climbing
  • Climbing
  • Basic Alpine
  • Adults
  • Basic Alpine Climb, Strenuous 4, Technical 4, Strenuous 2, Technical 2
  • Challenging
  • Mileage: 13.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 5,440 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 8,840 ft
  • Pace: 1.7-2.2

Conditioning:

Participants should be able to hike a "Double Mt. Si"  in 8 hours or less with 40-50 lbs and in mountaineering boots.  By "Double Si" I'm referring to starting at the trailhead sign by the vault toilets, up the new trail to the sign, just below the boulder section, then down the Old Trail to the Little Si parking lot, then reversing course.

The objectives for the climb  are:

  • Have fun and enjoy each other's company.
  • Make for the summit, conditions permitting.
  • Return to the trailhead safe and sound.
This is a challenging route, even in good conditions.  The approach road gate will be closed, so it's a good 3.5+ miles from the gate, just to the trailhead.  The road is mostly flat, but does gain some elevation.  Typical overnight glacier packs with group gear tend to be in the 40-50 lbs (18.14 -22.68 kg) range and you should be able to carry that pack and maintain a pace in the 1.2- 1.5 mph for 4-7 hours (with short 5 minute breaks every hour or 1,000' of elevation gain) and as much as 1,000' of elevation gain per mile.  From the trailhead to the lake, there are sections with significant elevation gain.  Depending on snow conditions, you may also need to do this with snowshoes, so the stamina requirement is significant.

From US-2 in Leavenworth drive Icicle Creek Road (Forest Road 76) for 8.4 miles. Turn left on Eightmile Road (Forest Road 7601), about one mile past Eightmile Campground and signed Lake Stuart/Colchuck Lake.  Continue 3.8 miles to the trailhead (3,400 ft).  Final travel arrangements, dates, and times TBD as we approach the target date.

Route/Place

Colchuck & Dragontail Peaks


  • Green Trails Alpine Lakes East (Stuart Range) No. 208SX
    USGS Enchantment Lakes
    Green Trails The Enchantments No. 209S
    USGS Mount Stuart
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

  • The Ten Essentials
  • Mountain boots that can accept crampons (not hiking boots)
  • Crampons
  • An ice axe (not technical ice tools)
  • A back pack (40 to 60 liters)
  • Webbing and accessory cords
  • 6 straight gate carabiners
  • 2 locking carabiners
  • Large pear-shaped carabiner
  • Belay device
  • Climbing harness
  • Helmet
  • Chock pick (nut tool)
  • Rescue pulley
  • Fleece or puffy jacket
  • Rain jacket and full-zip rain pants
  • Belay gloves
  • Warm gloves or mittens
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