Following a few days of new snow in the Snoqualmie pass area, we decided to explore the Commonwealth basin and attempt to attain the saddle between Guye Peak and Cave Ridge. It was holiday (MLK) so the ski areas were open and there were lots of people skiing and also snowshoeing in the Basis.

Parked at the W. Summit Ski lot and walked across to the Pacific Crest Trailhead. We took the first left off the main trail to follow the Old Pacific Crest trail down to the Commonwealth creek. Log crossing was fine and then the fun begins. Before the creek crossing the trail was well-packed and back-country skiers had made a nice trail as they headed to Red Mountain slopes. After crossing the creek and heading toward Guye and the saddle, the new snow had piled in about 14 inches deep with no established trail. Stream crossing were a bit of a challenge as snow bridges were very small and narrow.

The farther we went toward the saddle the deeper the snow became. At about 4000 feet we were into about 3’ of fresh, granular powder. There was a slight crust at about 14” deep, but not enough to hold and weight and another 20” of powder below the buried crust. Small sloughs on the steeper slopes were evident and making progress in the deep powder was excruciatingly slow. There was no way of kicking in steps because of the powder and sideways traversing was the only way to gain elevation. A slow process indeed.

After another hour of pushing forward, we called it a day at 4350’ elevation, still 350’ short of the saddle. The snow was heavy most of the day and by the time we got back to the car it was falling so fast and furious that we needed to chain up to get home.

In the Commonwealth basin, great snowshoe conditions, though on the trail in you would only need traction (spikes or yak tracks). Off trail there was plenty of soft powder for snowshoes.

With the storms forecast to this week, the upper areas will be 6-7 feet deep with unconsolidated powder and very avalanche prone. Snowshoeing in and around the Commonwealth basin should be excellent as temps remain below freezing and so much fresh powdery snow piling up.

Pictures from the ridge attempt:

http://www.flickr.com/[…]/

The snow started right away on this one, and so the alpental lot was packed with skiers and boarders. There are plenty of snowshoe tracks to follow out here, but be sure to pay close attention to your postion and bearing, as these tracks go all over and can easily send you down the wrong path. Only saw 7 people on this beautiful and surprisingly warm December Saturday. Made it to the summit by 12:30 and after watching a group ski down from cave ridge, I decided I had time to make a quick detour to finally catch an up close and personal glimpse of the phone booth. It was unfortunately buried by snow.

The way down was nice, as I was able to glissade nearly halfway and plunge-step the rest. Back to the car right at sundown, making for a very satisfying day.

Drove out of the fog somewhere around Exit 42 to perfect blue sky and mid-20s temperature. Parked at the ski club lot (don't try it on weekends) and headed up the road to the left of the ski hill, merging up further.

Packed snow allowed booting it up in the snowshoe tracks with an occasional sinker. Followed to just past Guy Peak where we followed some down hill ski tracks up a bit steeper rather than follow the snow shoe tracks (more later). Finally, put on snow shoes as the snow got softer and deeper. Took a neat side-drainage with icicles and a large log over the gully (see photos).

Took off snow shoes are a steep hard climb/traverse and kept them off the rest of the trip. We topped out between Guy and Cave Ridge figuring we'd had enough of an adventure - at least, I had!

Ate a bit and followed snowshoe tracks and varied. Back down to Commonwealth Creek level. The snow shoe route followed closely by the creek and undulated up and down the side hills making it more work than the climb and traverse way up the slope.

More sun down here and it was quite pleasant roaming back to where we had climbed up the slope. No one was out and about.

The trails we took were pretty well packed and the slopes were pretty firm including some really frozen slope and places where tree melt glazed the surface to unbreakable ice.

Great workout. Nice day. Good friendship.

No insects, no wildflowers, no Fall colors. Snow on trail. Have a good one.

It’s been months since we’ve hiked in Snoqualmie Pass. This week we returned to take care of some unfinished business. Over a year ago we tried to climb Cave Ridge via an unmaintained series of trails through the Commonwealth Basin, only to be stymied by early snows. This time the weather cooperated and we were soon enjoying big views filled with the reds and oranges of autumn.

Most hikers approach Cave Ridge from Alpental following the Guye Peak Trail up to a saddle, then veering left up to the top of the ridge. Instead, we wanted to try an approach that followed an unmaintained section of trail through Commonwealth Basin. Our route begins at the trailhead for Kendall Katwalk and Red Mountain. However, almost immediately you’ll take a left onto a narrow, alder-lined trail. Follow this one-time logging road as it occasionally tries on the role of streambed, a theme that continues for the majority of the trail up to the saddle.

See the full report here:

http://www.hikingwithmybrot[…]via-commonwealth-basin.html

-Jer