Sahale Peak this weekend ?

[Newman55]

Now that the SR20 has opened, and we can access the North Cascades, a few friends and I were thinking of climbing Sahale this weekend. Cascade River Road is drive-able to mile 20 so we'd have to park and hike 3 miles to the trail-head on snowshoes.

 

Anybody climbed Sahale Peak in Spring?

 

We're planning for a snow-shoe approach Saturday, camping overnight, then a Sunday morning summit and returning to Seattle Sunday evening.

 

Any Springtime-specific tips or info would be appreciated!

[Rad]

Though it may feel like spring down in the lowlands, you will probably encounter winter-like conditions at higher elevations. Watch the forecast and plan accordingly. Should be beautiful!

[Cyclopath]

According to the NPS road conditions page, Cascade River Road is driveable to about mile 18, depending on your vehicle.

 

So that leaves 5 or 5.5 miles of hiking along the road, plus about 7 on the trail. Plus round trip.

 

Sections of the road are incredibly steep. At least as steep as E Roy in Seattle, which is a 26 % grade.

 

I hiked to Cascade Pass in early July last year, and I've never seen so much snow. There was a lot of rockfall in the traverse section before the pass (after you come out of the woods), and there was an avy on J'berg mountain every 45 minutes or so. I don't know how susceptible the portion of the trail above tree-line before the pass is, but I would find out before doing it again. Another hiker lost the trail, made a b-line for the ridge, then lost his footing and slid out of control for 300 vertical feet before hitting a tree. He was slightly bloody but ok, I hiked out with him to make sure he didn't get into any more trouble.

 

Long story short, I'd hold off a few more months.

[Jason4]

I hiked to Cascade Pass in early July last last year too and skied fall line with some scrambling through the waterfall band back to the trail head. I think you should use common sense for mountaineering and expect a wet wintry mix up there this weekend. Take whiskey in case you get rained out and have fun.