I read a lot of trip reports going in, and afterwards, I wish I’d had a few more key details. I include my details below in hopes that future hikers don’t repeat my folly. This report is for Denny as a summer/fall/shoulder season hike/scramble:
- The best summer ascent route is sketched out by Mattius: begin up the ½-mile, gravelly Sessel ski run maintenance trail between the Sessel and St. Bernard lifts. At the top of the Sessel lift, hang a left at 3680-3700’ IN-BETWEEN the two buildings. You will then see an old shack in the near distance. To begin the super-clear, easy-peasey boot path that will take you to the top of the Armstrong lift, veer just LEFT of the shack then aim toward a large boulder 100’ away. You’re on the correct rock/dirt path when you pass an old red tractor/thresher on the right in about 200’. (I missed this boot path by 25’, was engulfed by wet slide alder, turned back and headed up to Cascade Traverse, which turned out to be a nightmare of mossy slabs, fallen trees, broken branches, wet boulders, slow-motion micro-steps, turn-arounds, cursing, etc. I.e., getting off-trail in shoulder-season when everything is wet can be a shitshow.)
- Once on the correct boot path past the red tractor, follow it to the rocky Debbie’s Gold ski run then head up the boulders diagonally-left. Re-gain the boot path around 4120’, where it will clearly veer left, go under the Armstrong lift chairs, then up the hill where you’ll end up just to the left of the lift around 4400'. If you are in the alder swamps at any point, you’ve gone wrong. Lord, I wish I had found this boot path on the way up.
- At the top of the Armstrong lift, walk along the well-maintained gravel road for 550’, then at the Edelweiss lift station take a faint boot path to the right up a hill. Ascend to a creek and either cross it or stay right - you have now reached the striking Edelweiss Bowl. At this point, I wished I’d heeded other posters and saved this scramble for either snowy May or a very dry summer day. Instead, due to recent rains there was a ½” frosting of snow on the boulders, which turned it from a boulder-hop into a boulder-slog. Each step considered and measured – slow going but just keep climbing straight ahead for 3/4 of a mile and up to the summit block. Near the top of the Bowl, you’ll see another Edelweiss lift station – stay left.
- At the summit block, find the large hemlock to the left (as many other posters have noted), go around it to the left, then climb a small chimney to attain the summit soon after. It was a little socked in, but the views are great, especially of Snoqualmie Mountain. The view of this peak from Armstrong Lift is the best you’ll ever get!
- Some folks descend via via Upper International/Lower International but I went back the way I came due to time. It was only then that I found the heaven-sent Debbie’s Gold path down.
- Misc. There’s a staggering amount of trash on this summer route, esp. in the bowl: old bottles, beer cans, slings, ski poles, etc. If you do get off trail, ascend the cleared out strips where plentiful cables or wires run uphill. Bring rain pants and gloves in shoulder season - even on a clear day - due to wet foliage.
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