[TR] Mount Higgins - From the South 02/06/2026

[JasonG]

Trip: Mount Higgins - From the South

Trip Date: 02/06/2026

Trip Report:

 

This lack of powder is starting to grate on me, but at least we have some backyard mountains that are still beautiful despite the dearth of snow.  Mount Higgins (Ska-dulvas) is among them.  Despite many trips in the area over the past 30 years I had never been to the true summit of Higgins.  It seems like, in the past few years, many ascents have come from the south via FR 1891 rather than from the Round Mountain trail (which was the former "standard" route).  Being that it was winter, and the 18 road was likely blocked by snow patches, @Trent and Adam and I cast off into our own unknown on a beautiful Friday morning.

 

In short, this is a pleasant trip.  About 2 miles of brush-free road (thanks to the locals for cutting this out regularly) past a gate led to a turn off into a beautiful old Doug Fir grove, just along the west edge of an old clear cut.  Several parties before us left the road into the clear-cut, but I think it better to walk a bit more and hit the older timber before ascending.  And ascend you will!  About 4k straight up steepening forest (open, thankfully) to a rib of sandstone that breaks up into a boulder field right before the ridge.  As short walk along that and boom, the summit! It took us about 3 hours from the car to the top. The views were grand, and maybe grander, than expected, extending all across the North Cascades to the Sound (Whulge) and Olympics.  The North Fork Stillaguamish is no slouch, as beautiful as the two maidens that fought over Qua-hae-eths (Round Mountain) so many years ago. 

Unlike the Indian legend, we had a peaceful time up high on Higgins, and delayed descending for almost an hour, enjoying the windless and weird warmth of an early February day.  We hadn't hit snow on the way up until almost 4500' and didn't see more than about 4-5' of snow at the 5100' summit.  It felt more like a late spring day up there, but I'll take any "winter" summit in the North Cascades!

Adam and @trent heading for the summit ridge:

Whitehorse (So-bahli-ahli)

Skadulgwas (or Ska-dulvas):

Adam chugging uphill:

North Fork Valley and Whitehorse:

Adam and @Trent on the summit:

Looking up the NF Sauk to Sloan, with Jumbo on the right:

Whitechuck and Glacier (Dakobed):

Heading a short distance down to our lunch spot:

Descending, with Skadulgwas and the NF Stillaguamish below:

Beautiful Doug Fir and ferns on the lower slopes of Higgins:

Brushed out FR 1891:

 

Gear Notes:
ice axe, crampons, maybe snowshoes in different conditions.

Approach Notes:
371st to Valley View Road (FR 1891) for a few miles and then up!

[psathyrella]

Holy `@#%@#$!` the detail in these pictures is freaking amazing.

[JasonG]

Just imagine if you could zoom into the full res originals on a good monitor! 

The new camera and glass that I splurged on this winter has been a bit of a revelation.  I should have done this glass upgrade 20 years ago but it took that long to wear down the Finance Minister!