Silver King

On 4/12/2015, we scrambled Silver King from the basin of Crystal Lake, gaining 3,800’ in 7 and a half hours. There were a couple inches of new snow at the 3,500’ trailhead. We followed the trail, or its trace, to upper Crystal Lake. Upon entering more open terrain at lower Crystal Lake, at ~5,400’ we found ourselves in 5-6” of new, unconsolidated snow atop a firm but reasonably breakable crust. These conditions persisted to the summit. From upper Crystal Lake’s north east shore we ascended right of the cliffs terminating a rib descending from the Silver King’s south ridge. We then curled left onto the spine of the rib and followed it up. Upon reaching the ridge top we turned left and ascended to Silver King’s summit. Unfortunately, the unconsolidated snow didn’t allow self-arrest or glissading practice for the student on the trip. This route gains some 1,000’ more than the approach from the Crystal Mountain ski area, but offers consistently moderate slopes and more esthetic surroundings.