Hex Mountain #1343

This is a good snowshow hike which can be summarized - long climb ending in rewarding views.

The hardest part of the trail is finding it! To find the parking look for the sign Newport Creek, and you will see signed parking just before this. FR116 is not signed, it is the second small road on the right past the creek, currently has lot#3 sign on it. If you look up the hill you'll see a yellow gate. Follow up the road. Around 2700' the road splits with the wider road going to the left, while the narrower FR116 goes straight ahead, between 2 large trees (one currently has a ""no hunting"" sign on it). This split was not marked on our maps. Tracks showed most people went to the left as we did.

Armed with maps, compass and altimeter this is not a big problem. There are many clear cuts and you can navigate up the hillside choosing open slopes or trees.

Once you get onto the ridge, the route is clear. You climb up through clear cuts(snow makes them look much better) which affords views across to your destination, and out to Cle Elum lake. The wind can whistle over the ridge, but climbing keeps you warm. Finally you see a national forest boundary sign and you enter some beautiful forest. You see the Sasse Ridge trail and turn right, until you climb steeply to the open peak.

What views! Don those extra clothes and reap your reward.

Although there were many tracks of snow mobilers on the lower slopes, there were none out this Saturday.

The descent goes much more quickly. We took 4 hours up (with lunch) and 2 hours to return.