[TR] Silver Star - Silver Star Creek 06/02/2018

[JuanBelay]

Trip: Silver Star - Silver Star Creek

Trip Date: 06/02/2018

Trip Report:

 

Did a ski tour of silver star via Silver Star creek. Beautiful day in the North Cascades, but I was probably 2-3 weeks late for any real skiing. I carried my boards to the col because it was early in the day and snow was still hard enough for crampons. Continuous ski-able snow did not start until about 6800 feet. A whole lot of work for just a few turns!

 

Ran into a couple of Mountaineers groups (one listed climb and one private). Looked like everyone was having a great day in the mountains!

Route is effectively snow free until about 4900 feet. After that, there is spotty snow as you find your way through the woods. ski-able snow did not really start until about 6800 feet at the terminal moraine below the glacier. 

From Silver Star creek ascend climbers path to approximately 4400 feet where things level off slightly. Route finding is fairly easy, though there is a lot of blow-down to go over and under

Continue up at a mellow incline on the East side of the creek. The climbers path is very faint, but if you keep East of the creek and below the Eastern ridge, you'll be fine. Several cairns and a bit of pink tape mark the way.

Emerge from the woods in the basin below Silver Star. Marsh and slide alder are to climber's right. Turn left (East) and ascend through first scree and then steep slide alder and woods to emerge on a bench. Ascend bench trending toward terminus of Silver Star glacier.

Ascend glacier to the col and then scramble through snow and rocks to the summit. There are  a couple of exposed moves toward the summit but they are naturally protected in chimneys and a couple of hand lines have been placed to assist.

Times were:

• Trailhead to meadow 2 hours
• Meadow to glacier terminus 1 hour
• Glacier terminus to col 1:15
• Col to summit 15 minutes 
• Summit to car 3 hours

Gear Notes:
Ice axe, crampons, skis, lots of patience for carrying skis through the blow-downs

Approach Notes:
Approach is via climbers path. Very faint with lots of blow-downs. See above for more info

Edited June 11, 2018 by JuanBelay

[Matt Lemke]

I did Silver Star the day before you on Friday afternoon and had to plow through all that fresh snow on the upper part of the route. I remember looking down Silver Star creek and thinking "glad I came over Burgundy Col...its bone dry down there!"

 

 

[Norman]

Matt:

You have some great trips... please...why not submit a trip on SP?  Looking kind of dead there. Did I miss it?

[JuanBelay]

Matt - Thanks for the steps! They made my climb much easier at the top

[JasonG]

2 hours ago, Norman said:

please...why not submit a trip on SP

SP is dead to us.  There is only Cascade Climbers.

[Bdubs]

Would you recommend bringing skis or not really any use/reward?

[Seraphim]

Thanks for the report! What is the best way to access Silver Star? Is it better to go up Silver Creek, or drop over from the other side?

I have been wondering about this for awhile now. What is the PROS of CONS of doing either direction. Thanks!!!

 

 

[JasonG]

10 hours ago, Seraphim said:

 What is the best way to access Silver Star?

Are you looking to ski or walk?

What time of year?

These both factor in heavily since the "best" approach will depend on your answers to the questions above @Seraphim

[JuanBelay]

I would say that once the road opens up you're better off going over the col and dropping into Silver Star. If you're there to ski, go up the Silver Star Creek approach.

As of the weekend i posted, I'd say it's not worth hauling skis in there this year. There isn't enough snow left.