Sawtooth Summit // Indian Heaven Wilderness
Couldn't find much beta or GPX track for this route, so here's a full trip - We started our trip from Cultus Creek TH and took trail #108 until it intersected with the PCT. Followed the PCT north, then took the Sawtooth trail cutoff. We followed the Sawtooth trail around the western flank of the Sawtooth ridge/peak until we hit an obvious bootpath going up towards the ridge.
The bootpath was steep, and brushy, not well trodden. But, it generally curved left (North) until you got to the ridge spine. The trail was Class II before reaching the ridge. Once at the ridge, there were two choices - climb up and over the ridge and traverse along the loose, brushy east side, or downclimb a bit along the west side of the ridge and traverse. I ascended via the east side of the ridge, and descended via the west...the west is better. In either case, you follow the narrow, but relatively safe ridgeline towards the summit block.
The summit block is exposed Class III. The route goes directly up the spine of the ridge, leading towards a few large pillars which make up the false summit. You do not have to climb these pillars, but can squeeze between them, depending on your size. After these pillars, the views are amazing, and it's a flat dirt walk to the true summit. The true summit is gained via a crack in the left (west) flank, it is relatively easy.
Overall, this was a fun albeit, a bit short little scramble. The views are amazing - Hood, MSH, Rainier, Goat Rocks, and Adams all visible. We brought our dog with us, but he didn't make the summit. Surprisingly, I think he is struggling with his scrambling confidence after taking a fall on a trip a few weeks ago. Had he been his normal confident self, I think he could've made it. Happy to answer any questions!
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