Jim Hill Mountain, Lanham Lake — Monday, Jul. 5, 2021

Climbed Jim Hill Mountain via Lanham Lake.

Getting There

The trailhead is at the Stevens Nordic Center, about 500 ft from Highway 2. Any car can make it. There is a big parking lot that had a measly two cars in it when I arrived. Follow the forest road for another 100 ft to reach the trailhead; it is not the trail that starts right at the parking lot.

Lanham Lake

The only possible complication is when the trail intersects a forest road after about a third of a mile; take a right and follow the road 100 ft, that is where the trail continues. There was one muddy section that did not pose much difficulty. See first and second picture.

Jim Hill Mountain

Getting to the top of the mountain is more complicated as there is no trail. Follow a boot trail clockwise around the lake until until you reach the East side of the lake. From here on, follow the steep, forested slope straight up (see second picture). My strategy was to (1) find a path with little brush, (2) go straight up if possible, and, if not, (3) head towards the climbers right (South). This worked reasonably well (but see below). Except for the area near the lake which had quite a few shrubs with thorns, the brush is not bad at all, but thanks to the steepness (1300 ft elevation gain over 0.4 miles) it took me about an hour to reach the top of the ridge.

Both during my ascent and descent I ran into a series of pink ribbons which did a great job in guiding my way. They start maybe 50ft above the lake and stop about two thirds up. My best advice would be to start at the East side of the lake as I did, but to put more emphasis on going right (South). There are lots of ribbons so there is a good chance of finding them.

Once one reaches the ridge it is much easier to make progress even though it ascends steeply to the mountain top (see second picture). For a good part of the ridge there is a faint boot trail on its East side. Near the top one can see the summit to the climbers right.

The summit block (see third picture) requires some class 3 scrambling. I went up the grassy ledge that can be seen on the left in the picture, but getting to the main part of the summit block included one somewhat exposed move and another one that was a little difficult. I am fairly certain that this can be avoided by crossing the snow field (probably warrants use of an ice axe) and following the grassy ledge in the middle of the picture.

The scramble up the main part of the summit block is reasonably well protected even though it might not seem like that in the picture. The views from the top were great - prime views of Glacier Peak, the Chiwaukum Mountains, the Stuart Range, and Mount Daniel and surroundings (see fourth picture). There is a summit register at the top, but it is practically full.