Sinister Peak/Northwest Face

An attractive basic climb on a remote peak along the Ptarmigan Traverse in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, close enough to Dome Peak to allow a two-peak itinerary.

Temporary Closure

4/15/21 Update: In the aftermath of the Downey Mountain fire in 2020, the Suiattle River Road is closed west of Downey Creek, at about mile 19. This closure includes all trails beyond the road closure: Downey Creek Trail (No. 768), Sulphur Creek Trail (No. 793), Sulphur Mountain Trail (No. 794), Suiattle River Trail (No. 784), Bachelor Creek Trail (No. 796), and the Sulphur Creek Campground. Please check with the Darrington Ranger District for the most up to date information.

getting there

Take Exit 208 (Arlington) off of I-5 and drive 32 miles east on SR-530 through Darrington.  Continue 7 miles to the Suiattle River Rd and drive approximately 21 miles to the Downey Creek Campground and the Downey Creek Trailhead. 

Approach

Follow the Downey Creek Trail 6.5 miles to Sixmile Camp.  Locate and follow a trail easterly along the north side of Bachelor Creek to where it crosses the creek at 3,700 ft (approximately 9.5 miles).  Follow the trail into a dense, brushy thicket where it turns sharply left (east) and ascends the valley near the creek and then through timber and steep switchbacks to Cub Lake Pass (6,000 ft), northwest of Cub Lake. Descend to Cub Lake and follow the path around the lake and steeply up to Itswoot Ridge.

Ascent

From Itswoot ridge, traverse east across heather, snow and scree.  Ascend the gullies and bear right (east), rising to meet the Dome Glacier on its northwest side. Ascend to the N shoulder of Dome, and the Dome-Chickamin Glacier Col, approximately 8,500 ft.  Descend the Chickamin Glacier northeasterly to 7,200 ft where you can traverse right and climb to the 7,640 ft Dome-Sinister col; a bergshrund may pose problems in late season. From the col, climb moderate snow on the NW face, ending with an easy scramble (Class 2-3) to the summit (8,440 ft).

TRIP PROFILE

SEGMENT
    TIME (HOURS)       
     ELEVATION GAIN (FeeT)
Seattle to Trailhead 2.5 1450
Trailhead to Camp 1 8-9 3900
Camp 1 to Camp 2 3-4 3450
Camp to Summit 6 -1600, +1300
Summit to Cars 12 -7000

Equipment

Standard glacier travel gear.

  • Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
  • Length: 35.0 None
  • Elevation Gain: 11,400 ft
  • 8,440 ft
Map
  • USGS Dome Peak
  • USGS Downey Mtn
  • Green Trails Cascade Pass No. 80
  • Trails Illustrated North Cascades National Park
Activities

Upcoming Activities

Basic Glacier Climb - Sinister Peak/Northwest Face

Climbing Trip
Stekekin entrance if the Suiattle River Rd remains closed. Best 5 days. This climb is
Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
Wed, Jul 5, 2023 - Wed, Jul 12, 2023
Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
1 participant 0 leaders
Registration opens Jun 1
Seattle Branch
Susan Shih
Trip Reports
Resources

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