Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Craig Romano/The Mountaineers Books Mount Dickerman
Featured In:
Day Hiking: North Cascades,
by Craig Romano.
A portion of all book sales from the links above benefits WTA and helps protect and maintain our trails. Starting in thick timber, the way traverses the slope for a minute or two before commencing into switchback rhythm. The tread can be rocky at times, a result of erosion from when much of the mountain's lower slopes went up in flames nearly a century ago. Remnant old-growth giants displaying their fire survival scars stand proudly among scrappy successive growth. After 2 miles of continuous clambering under a dark canopy and beside and around big mossy ledges, the grade eases at a small creek crossing (dry by late summer, pack plenty of water). Welcome daylight too as the way breaks out into boundless blue- and huckleberry-bursting flats as you near 3 miles (elev. 4400 ft). After vacillating through the vacciniums, resume upward momentum. Cresting Dickerman's western shoulder, you'll have the summit in view-1 mile away and 1000 feet above. Winding through hemlock groves and heather meadows, the way once again steepens. But the stunning view south to Big Four, Del Campo, and the countless Monte Cristo peaks will help keep your mind off the grind. Finally, after gaining almost 3900 feet in 4.3 miles, reach the open summit. Sheer cliffs drop from the north face, so keep dogs, children, and the vertically phobic nearby. Securely seated, start savoring the scenery. Admire the Perry Creek basin below, flanked by Mount Forgotten and Stillaguamish Peak. Look at all the mountains! Prominent to the north are Baker and White Chuck. East, it's Pugh, Sloan, and Glacier. South, Rainier peeks above a wall of jagged summits. And west, Pilchuck and Three Fingers stand out. No wonder this hike is so darned popular!
Driving Directions:
From Granite Falls follow the Mountain Loop Highway east for 27 miles to the trailhead, 1.8 miles beyond (east of) the Big Four Picnic Area (elev. 1850 ft). Privy available. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Snow on trail | Avalanche danger
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Heavy snowfall over the last several days has left those areas beyond the Deer Creek Winter Gates at mile post...
Heavy snowfall over the last several days has left those areas beyond the Deer Creek Winter Gates at mile post 23.3 on the Mountain Loop Highway,covered in deep snow.This finally allowed the US Forest Service and the Snohomish County Road Department to close the Deer Creek Gates for the winter.
The highway was plowed on Sunday night the 15th and the gates pulled closed and after the last vehicle that had been parked at the Monte Cristo Trailhead for winter camping activity,had driven out.The gates were locked on Monday morning the 16th. Since Monday morning several feet of snow (3 feet or more) has fallen,making for good snowshoe and cross-country skiing. Beware that the area is also open to snomobiles which are required to keep their speeds down in areas used for multiple recreation. DO NOT park between the "NO PARKING BEYOIND THIS POINT"-"SNOW PLOW TURNAROUND" signs and the yellow gates unless you are prepared to receive a $124.00 traffic citation for failing to obey the signs.Park so the snow plow can get past your vehicle as well. BEWARE OF FALLING,OVERHEAD HAZARDS created by the heavy snow-load on the trees. There is a threat of being stranded for an extended period of time if trees fall and block the highway,so come prepared for that possibility,have food,water,and extra clothing just in case. Have a full gas tank. EXTREME AVALANCHE DANGERS...DO NOT CROSS THE ALUMINUM BRIDGE AT THE ICE CAVES. Enjoy your stay and be safe, Deputy Rasar Day hike
Issues:
Mudholes | Water on trail | Snow on trail | No water source
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Flickr: http://bit.ly/mt-dickerman-iii
Mount Dickerman was rather quiet today for having semi-decent morning weather. Arrived at the trailhead at 8:30 AM with...
Flickr: http://bit.ly/mt-dickerman-iii
Mount Dickerman was rather quiet today for having semi-decent morning weather. Arrived at the trailhead at 8:30 AM with only one other car in the parking lot. The boys went to Round Mountain with me yesterday so today they got to stay home and sleep all day. Cooper and I were here May of 2010 so it was only a matter of time to pay another visit. A report I read on WTA and NWhikers by the same hiker talked about his encounter with falling snow chunks. So to be on the safe side I brought my helmet along. It never hurts over-prepare than not have enough and having to turnaround in despair. Savored the first 1,000' of snow-free trail, then it was followed by snow/ice at 2,000' all the way to the summit. There had been plenty of foot traffic on trail and various scramble route(s) so no need to worry about getting lost or offtrack. Saw owner of the other vehicle at around 5,000' as he was coming down. Got to the summit 2.5 hours later and stayed for 45 minutes to treasure the solitude. It was mostly sunny when I started, then the clouds slowly rolled in from all directions when I got to the meadow at 4,600'. It cleared up a bit couple hundred feet below the summit, but that didn't last very long. Got lucky to snatch photos of Glacier Peak and Sloan Peak before the last bit of views disappeared. On the way down I past a total of 22 hikers who were heading up. I brought snowshoes and helmet along but didn't use them. Only used microspikes for traction. Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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It was nice sunny day to go up the Dickerman today. Parking lot is covered with packed snow. Trail...
It was nice sunny day to go up the Dickerman today. Parking lot is covered with packed snow. Trail is show free to about 3,000'. Then you get ice/compact snow for some time. At about 4,000' watch out for falling ice when you get to the frozen waterfall and rock above you with ice hanging above you. When I was walking trough there some ice broke off and roled on to the trail, some chunks where 1 to 1.5 feet in size.!!! After that it is mostly nice snow "trail", exept when you are closer to the summit, some foot trails go diferent directions... Be carefull out there. Enjoy the mountain and stay safe!
for more info, check http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7995645
Mount Dickerman
— Dec 04, 2011
— Kalman Brauner
Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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Road approach to trailhead: a little compact snow and ice on the road east of Granite Falls. The...
Road approach to trailhead: a little compact snow and ice on the road east of Granite Falls. The county truck had just completed its sanding run. No problem.
Parking lot: plowed, but a little hard to get into the parking stalls without 4 wheel drive. For that reason several cars parked on the shoulder of the county road just outside the parking lot. Snow conditions: The snow in the parking lot soon disappeared as one ascended the trail and didn't reappear until about the 3000' level. The snow was continuous from there to the summit. There were icy spots on the trail until about 4400' or so. Everyone was following the "summer trail" to the summit. Above about 5000' or so, there was about 6 to 8 inches of powdery snow over a rather hard crust. Floatation and traction devices: No floatation device was needed or used. Trekking poles are used and helpful in the icy areas below about 4500 ft. We neither carried or needed other traction devices. Weather: Fantastic. The sky was completely blue. No clouds. No wind. One could see from Canada to the Olympics, to Rainier, to well east of Glacier Peak. A glorious day. Companion: Amy. Time: 3:30 hrs car to summit; 6:15 hrs car to car. Bumped into on trail: Lynn, Richard, Boglarka, and others in a Mtneer group.
Mount Dickerman
— Dec 03, 2011
— poundcakes
Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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Road clear to trailhead, snowy and slick the last few miles past Silverton. Trailhead parking lot is tricky to navigate,...
Road clear to trailhead, snowy and slick the last few miles past Silverton. Trailhead parking lot is tricky to navigate, very hard snow. Trail clear for about 3/4 of a mile, then solid snow to the top. Only tracks thus far are up the summer route.
Area around the waterfall is slick and dangerous, though the two actual chute crossings are easy. You will want both crampons or other traction devices for your shoes lower down and snowshoes for the upper mountain. |
Big Four Mountain from Mt. Dickerman trail (Mark Dexter)
2010
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