Sauk Mountain, Sauk Mountain Snowshoe — Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005

North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20

Sauk Mountain is a favorite of a friend who called Friday evening looking to take advantage of the spring like weather and low ava danger. I'd never been, and wasn't disappointed on this near perfect day a few thousand feet above the fog filled Skagit River Valley. Snow on the Sauk Mtn Road #1030, started around 2800' or so (I forgot to calibrate the altimeter so I'm guessing) and we parked at a wide switchback corner and began the walk up the road. We hiked the road to the trailhead (again forgetting to calibrate the alt at this known elev point) slipped into the snowshoes, out and up somewhat along the summer trail. Lots of ava activity in evidence and a few climax slides have removed much snow cover on the steep W face exposing a surprising amount of bare dirt and vegetation. Climbed, on snowshoes at first and as the angle increased, kicked steps and wallowed in the deeper spots to the ridge. Traversed along the E side of the summit ridge across ice crusted snow and were rewarded with wonderful 360 degree views from the lookout site. Got a few decent glissades in on the way down and our late start this morning meant that we were treated to a spectacular sunset this evening as we descended.