This entire trip (including Source and Snow Lake) goes through avalanche terrain. Be avalanche aware before you go.
Providing a trip report, since Avalanche Mountain isn't a popular area.
Started at Alpental, went up to Source Lake via the winter route, then went up to Snow Lake overlook via the winter route (access next to Snow Lake Divide). Went cross-country and up to the Avalanche Mountain saddle booting at first, then switching to snowshoes once I hit Snow Lake basin.
Traversed and went up the ridge to the saddle/summit ridge using snowshoes, then booted the remainder of the way along the summit ridge. Did some minor scrambling over rocks to reach the summit.
Used my ice axe and crampons to get downhill, then switched back to snowshoes.
Snow had softened considerably on the return. I was more conservative in my route-finding around the lake basin.
Was postholing a bit on the return through Source Lake basin. I carefully walked out the down track that goes by Alpental backcountry (carefully since I didn't want to impede the skiers/boarders and didn't want to screw up the track).
Comments
shegoat on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
This looks like it was a great journey using lots of different gear and skill to stay safe. Nice pix too. I will miss your reports and noticed you were reporting less. Are you volunteering your time to aid land management during the regular hiking season? Sounds like a great use of time and skill.
Posted by:
shegoat on Feb 19, 2022 07:29 AM
ngie on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
Yeah… I’ve been snowboarding and splitboarding more this season thanks to COVID restrictions being loosened up.
I helped volunteer as a USFS volunteer ranger back in 2019, but it wasn’t quite what I thought it would be (I thought there would be more of an opportunity for trail work). I got a lot more done through work parties with WTA and just running around with a saw trimming up stuff. So much of USFS’s time seems to be focused on key areas and other trails don’t get as much attention as they should, which kinds of feeds back into them needing maintenance, since no one knows what to work on.
I hope I can join a couple WTA BCRTs this year. They’re one of the best ways to give back to the hiking community.
Posted by:
ngie on Feb 19, 2022 01:10 PM
shegoat on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
I appreciate this information. I had applied to volunteer with the USFS lookouts (staffing them,etc.), but then Covid shut it down. I plan to contribute with WTA as well. I’ve had a few rant sessions appear on my posts and actually there may be some I’ve never seen. It’s amazing where people can direct their anger. It’s just not a good venue for discussing topics that are important to all of us.
Happy trails and thanks for sharing your adventures.
Posted by:
shegoat on Feb 19, 2022 01:35 PM
ngie on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
Thanks for sharing this shegoat 💚.
Not sure if you were a previous USFS volunteer, but if not, please feel free to reach out so I can connect you with some folks who help maintain standing fire lookouts in USFS managed land part of the Mount-Baker Snoqualmie area; a few, e.g., Granite, Kelly Butte, Suntop, and Three Fingers, are being maintained with the blessing of the USFS folks (many of the volunteers are former USFS folks).
Posted by:
ngie on Feb 20, 2022 02:23 PM
shegoat on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
Hi ngie, I would like a contact name for the lookout maintenance. I had a couple of names but things may have changed. Not sure. I had even done the training but it was all put to a halt with Covid. Much appreciated.
Posted by:
shegoat on Feb 21, 2022 02:45 PM
ngie on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
@shegoat: please check in with Valerie Cunningham: she's a USFS ranger back in 2019 who I worked with (she was based mostly out of Enumclaw). I'm not sure if she's a ranger again (post-COVID), but she was working with a group of volunteers managing the SunTop/Kelly Butte/Granite Mt lookouts.
Posted by:
ngie on Apr 04, 2022 03:23 PM
ngie on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
My email is yaneurabeya _at_ gmail _dot_ com.
Posted by:
ngie on Apr 04, 2022 03:25 PM
Glen99 on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
Will you be posting someplace else? Peakbagger?
Posted by:
Glen99 on Feb 19, 2022 07:47 AM
ngie on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
I’ll be posting on NWAC, NWHikers, and Strava.
Posted by:
ngie on Feb 19, 2022 01:04 PM
kidz won't hike on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
I get it, but hopefully you will reconsider and keep posting here. Your report are so great and very informative. I think there are many others here that feel the same way.Don’t let the negativity of the trolls win.
Posted by:
kidz won't hike on Feb 19, 2022 09:25 AM
shegoat on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
That’s the truth!
Posted by:
shegoat on Feb 19, 2022 09:40 AM
ngie on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
I appreciate it KWH, but the last set of comments about the Chiwaukums combined with this made me realize that WTA isn’t the right target audience for my TRs.
I’ve been putting a lot of disclaimers and caveats on TRs lately and we’ve been going off-trail more and more or doing off-season stuff, and I don’t want to be liable for someone getting hurt because they lack the tools to make informed decisions.
This coupled with lack and time and energy from work sucking so much of my time and energy makes me less enthusiastic to put my TRs on here.
There’re a lot of personal reasons driving this decision, but it’s largely boiling down to not having the time or energy to put myself out on the site and needing to redirect it elsewhere.
Posted by:
ngie on Feb 19, 2022 01:15 PM
Jasper & the Girl Scouts on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
I always enjoy your reports Ngie (and kidz won't hike); altho many are out of my wheelhouse of technical skill/aspects...I appreciate your details, safety highlights, and enthusiasm. Thank YOU!
Posted by:
Jasper & the Girl Scouts on Feb 19, 2022 10:16 AM
ngie on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
Thank you for the note 🙏 —- take care 💚.
Posted by:
ngie on Feb 19, 2022 01:17 PM
Ups n Downs on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
Reminds me of one of moms favorites: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. I loathe to think of the future we're leaving for my kids. Be safe and be well; I will always enjoy your enthusiasm for the outdoors.
Posted by:
Ups n Downs on Feb 19, 2022 03:39 PM
hobbitditz on Source Lake - Winter Route, Snow Lake - Winter, Avalanche Mountain
ngie, wherever you go and whatever you do, be safe and thanks for the TRs and all you do.
Posted by:
hobbitditz on Mar 08, 2022 08:33 PM