Recently did a 2 night backpack to Selisia camp on copper ridge. Wildflowers are in full bloom right now and beautiful. On the way in we hit our first snow patch on the way up to Hannegan pass, with fairly consistent snow starting when we got to Copper Ridge. There were several sketchy snow bridges over streams that we had to cross on the way up to Copper Ridge. In the span of just a couple days the snow melted significantly and on the way out there were no more sketchy snow bridges as the snow had all melted. There is one site at Silesia that is fully melted out and the other is still covered in about 2 feet of snow but melting quickly - with the heat wave this week, I suspect the second campsite will melt out at an accelerated rate now and possibly be snow free by the start of the last weekend in July. We hiked up to the Copper Ridge lookout from our camp at Silesia and it was beautiful, 360 degree mountain views - I would highly recommend it! Bugs (flies and mosquitoes) were a nuisance and not too bad, but they got consistently worse in our time out there, so beware.
Trip Report
Copper Ridge, Copper Ridge Loop & Hannegan Pass and Peak — Saturday, Jul. 23, 2022
North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
Comments
DerrickL on Copper Ridge, Copper Ridge Loop, Hannegan Pass and Peak
Thanks for the great trip report! I have a trip doing the loop starting next week and am super excited. On the national park websites latest trail update they recommended an ice axe and micro spikes to cross hells gorge due to snow and ice. Was that still the case when y’all went through or does it seem ok to go without them?
Posted by:
DerrickL on Jul 27, 2022 02:58 PM
tzelle on Copper Ridge, Copper Ridge Loop, Hannegan Pass and Peak
I saw Hell's Gorge listed on the map but I honestly didn't notice anything noteworthy of that name. Either way, there is no need for an ice axe. I did not personally have micro spikes and would not say they are needed, but if they help you be more comfortable on snow then it wouldn't hurt to bring them because there will certainly still be snow on copper ridge.
Posted by:
tzelle on Jul 27, 2022 03:53 PM
christinacuenca on Copper Ridge, Copper Ridge Loop, Hannegan Pass and Peak
Thank you! How was egg lake? Melted out? We have an Egg/Silesia trip this weekend.
Posted by:
christinadlarge on Jul 28, 2022 08:52 AM
tzelle on Copper Ridge, Copper Ridge Loop, Hannegan Pass and Peak
There is snow going down to egg lake and the lake itself has not fully melted out (but is melted out enough to get water), but I do believe both of the tent sites are fully melted out.
Posted by:
tzelle on Jul 29, 2022 09:59 AM