Navaho Peak
Sep 04, 2010
by
onehikeaweek
—
last modified
Oct 06, 2010 08:06 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Navaho Peak
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- Salmon La Sac/Teanaway
- Avg Rating: 4.50
- Hiking Companions
- Hiked with a dog
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
Stuart Range panoramic view - (c) johnwporter
Last year I attempted this hike but instead I ended up on Earl Peak. Not sure how it happened, but I blamed it on my cheap compass and no maps for the unexpected outcome. This year, I was more than ready to try Navaho Peak again. This time with detailed maps, a much more reliable compass, and a GPS device that's truly a lifesaver.
The sky was half-covered with low clouds when I got to the trailhead. I had determined to summit Navaho for the amazing view of The Enchantments, so I was a little worried that my hope for the grand view at the top would not be realized. About half hour into the hike, the sun starting to peek through and the low clouds were slowly dissipating. With the weather becoming nicer and warmer, I was even more pumped to get to the summit.
The trail was in good conditions with virtually no overgrown or blowdowns. Instead of heading up to Navaho Pass to get to the peak, I decided to try out the scramble route. According to the scrambler's map, the scramble route should have started just right before crossing the Stafford Creek. So when I hiked passed the creek I knew I had gone too far.
I backtracked to the location where the map indicated as the scrambler's junction (4,6000-foot elevation), but I was having trouble finding the scrambler's path. With my GPS device in one hand and a map in the other, I decided to start walking up the scree-filled hill from the supposed junction and followed the waypoints I had made per the scrambler's map.
The GPS device was A-mazing! Unable to find the scrambler's path, I closely followed the waypoints straight up the hill and before I knew it I was on the ridge at 6,600-foot elevation. My heart started pounding, knowing that I was only about another 600 feet or so to the summit.
Once on the ridge, the rest of the way was a piece of cake. The ridgeline wasn't at all woodsy so I simply followed it to the summit. The blue sky had been free of clouds after the initial half hour, so I knew I was going to be in for a real treat at the top.
Just as I expected, The Enchantments welcomed me with open arms and I was grateful to have made it without a hitch. My two dogs were happy to get another meal at the top as a reward for their effort through the tough parts of the scramble and for keeping me company. After an hour of resting, eating, taking pictures, and fighting wind gusts, we started to head back down.
I had originally planned on going back through the pass since I've never been to it. But then I decided to save some time and go back via the scramble path. It was another perfect day for a perfect hike!
Flickr: http://bit.ly/navaho-peak
The sky was half-covered with low clouds when I got to the trailhead. I had determined to summit Navaho for the amazing view of The Enchantments, so I was a little worried that my hope for the grand view at the top would not be realized. About half hour into the hike, the sun starting to peek through and the low clouds were slowly dissipating. With the weather becoming nicer and warmer, I was even more pumped to get to the summit.
The trail was in good conditions with virtually no overgrown or blowdowns. Instead of heading up to Navaho Pass to get to the peak, I decided to try out the scramble route. According to the scrambler's map, the scramble route should have started just right before crossing the Stafford Creek. So when I hiked passed the creek I knew I had gone too far.
I backtracked to the location where the map indicated as the scrambler's junction (4,6000-foot elevation), but I was having trouble finding the scrambler's path. With my GPS device in one hand and a map in the other, I decided to start walking up the scree-filled hill from the supposed junction and followed the waypoints I had made per the scrambler's map.
The GPS device was A-mazing! Unable to find the scrambler's path, I closely followed the waypoints straight up the hill and before I knew it I was on the ridge at 6,600-foot elevation. My heart started pounding, knowing that I was only about another 600 feet or so to the summit.
Once on the ridge, the rest of the way was a piece of cake. The ridgeline wasn't at all woodsy so I simply followed it to the summit. The blue sky had been free of clouds after the initial half hour, so I knew I was going to be in for a real treat at the top.
Just as I expected, The Enchantments welcomed me with open arms and I was grateful to have made it without a hitch. My two dogs were happy to get another meal at the top as a reward for their effort through the tough parts of the scramble and for keeping me company. After an hour of resting, eating, taking pictures, and fighting wind gusts, we started to head back down.
I had originally planned on going back through the pass since I've never been to it. But then I decided to save some time and go back via the scramble path. It was another perfect day for a perfect hike!
Flickr: http://bit.ly/navaho-peak
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Earl Peak to the southwest, where I ended up by accident last year - (c) johnwporter
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Mount Rainier to the southwest - (c) johnwporter
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