
Trip
Winter Scramble - Aurora Peak
Winter scramble, potentially to West Aurora peak, assessing avalanche conditions. We'll get at least 3400ft elevation gain. Beautiful weather means we may move this to a location on hurricane ridge.
- Sun, Mar 23, 2025
- Kitsap Alpine Scrambling Committee
- Scrambling
- Adults
- Winter Scramble
- Challenging
- Mileage: 9.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 5,000 ft
- High Point Elevation: 4,700 ft
- Pace: 1000ft/hr
- 1 (5 capacity)
- 1 (3 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
This is a steep, but evenly graded trail with some exposure in slippery snow. We'll assess avy risk at a specific turnoff after 3400 feet of gain. If all is well, we'll keep going to the jct with Aurora Ridge, hang a left and see about conditions for climbing Aurora peak. We may otherwise hang a right and do Sourdough Mtn, which does not include a bald, south-facing slope.
If the weather is bluebird with low avy risk, we may opt to go to hurricane Ridge instead, hike out to Hurricane Hill and then down toward the Elwha or Little River and back. Either way, this will be at least a 3,500-ft day, up to $5,000 ft of gain and loss.
Gear TBD, But plan for ice ax, crampons helmet and possibly snowshoes.
Please tell us your experience with comparable big days when asking permission.
7:30 Storm King Ranger station. Well carpool to the pullout for Aurora, where there's room for 2 cars.
Or Olympic NP visitor center, Port Angeles if we do Hurricane Ridge.
Aurora Peak
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USGS Lake Crescent
Custom Correct Lake Crescent - Happy Lake Ridge - See full route/place details.
Required Equipment
- The Ten Essentials
- Helmet
- Crampons
- Ice Axe
- Mountaineering Boots
- Snowshoes TBD
- Trekking poles
- Bivy gear and warm enough clothes to survive the night in case of injury or emergency.
Check with leader for any additional group gear or required equipment specific to trip location