[TR] Silver Star Mountain - Silver Star Glacier via Silver Star Sno Park 05/16/2021

[dchromey253]

Trip: Silver Star Mountain - Silver Star Glacier via Silver Star Sno Park

Trip Date: 05/16/2021

Trip Report:

It was a tossup between Ruby or Silver Star Mountain this past weekend in the North Cascades. First time in the National Park, so as a Washington Native and Tacoma Born/raised you can diss on me all you want 

Went for Silver Star instead of Ruby Mountain. Wanting that extra elevation gain!

Started at 6am from the Silver Star Sno Park trailhead. Mix of trail and snow from the start. Broke out on the first Boulder field then into the swamp! Followed good tracks. With a good 4-5 feet of snow there was little punch through in the morning. Different story on the way down! Followed a SE Approach to the Silver Star Glacier. Donned Crampons and Ice Axe "just in case." Long slog to the Burgundy Col kinda like the slog to Muir? Beautiful views though! Wind from the SW was blowing through the col so grab some protection either relaxing or gearing up for the last push to the summit. Class 3-4 with a couple route options. Either right to grab some slabs with some Northern exposure or stay left and shimmy up the Chimney which I did. Easy little push through, trust the rock and a beautiful view on the summit! Some pictures around the journey. Was enjoying it too much to take my camera out all the time!

Came back down the same way. People were postholing to their hips on different paths. Punched through some soft snow spots with running water underneath but nothing bad occurred. 

Follow me on instagram @dchromey253 for more adventures and climbs! Got Adams, Baker, (maybe Whitehorse?), another Whitney trip, Rainier in July and of course spontaneous adventures! 

 

 

Gear Notes:
Crampons, Ice Axe, Helmet "just in case"

Approach Notes:
Start Early. its a beauty being in the shade. Hot on the glacier around 9am

[JasonG]

Glad you had a good intro into the HWY 20 corridor!

Just an FYI on a couple things....Neither Ruby or Silverstar are in NOCA- Ruby is in the Ross Lake Rec. Area (administered by NOCA, however), while Silverstar is in an unprotected area of the Okanogan Nat'l Forest.  Highway 20 doesn't actually touch NOCA anywhere, though you can see into the park from it.  Burgundy col isn't the col below the summit, between the summits, rather Burgundy col is on the north side of Burgundy spire.