ArchimedesDog Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 Since I made an account, I might as well ask -- What are some easy hiking summits in the Cascades? I haul around a lot of camera equipment and am nursing bad knees, but would love to get up high this summer. Quote
Alex Posted January 5, 2014 Posted January 5, 2014 These are my def of easy, YMMV... Cascade Pass Gothics with a nice view of Del Campo et al. Vesper with good views to Big Four Cutthroat Pass Get into Fisher Basin, or get to Wing Lake under Black Quote
curtveld Posted January 5, 2014 Posted January 5, 2014 You can't go wrong with any of the old lookout peaks: Sauk Mtn., Pilchuck, Winchester, Park Butte, Hidden Lakes Peak, etc. Not all are physically easy, but all are non-technical. Quote
JasonG Posted January 5, 2014 Posted January 5, 2014 It is not a summit, but hiking camera gear to Sahale Glacier camp is good way to get some summit looking shots, in a rugged part of the range. Â A few more to the excellent suggestions above (many are former LO peaks): Â Hannegan Peak Anderson Butte Sourdough Crater Pugh Mt. David .... Â If you are willing to deal with a very benign glacier, I think the views from the summit of Ruth are perhaps some of the best, for the amount of effort expended. Quote
Water Posted January 5, 2014 Posted January 5, 2014 nobody went south for ya: These aren't 'easy' so to speak, but groups of superfit run/jog them, throngs of average fit hike them, and decent numbers of small children, the unfit and the overweight get up them.  Mount St. Helens South Sister (Oregon)  ...requiring a fair bit more fitness, Mt. Adams, though going to Lunch Counter (~9,500ft) is fairly spectacular and only about a 3,500ft gain ~6mile round trip.  also could consider going up to Camp Muir on Rainier. And one of many subpeaks in the cascades thats pretty quick bang for buck: http://www.nwhiker.com/GPNFHike02.html  No idea of your background/comfort on steepness/ice axe use/etc---so for novice i'd just recommend late summer when usually snow free (depending on snowpack..which is not doing well right now) Quote
caverpilot Posted January 6, 2014 Posted January 6, 2014 Don't forget Silver Star, to which you can drive within 2 miles or so of the summit. It's the big ridge east of Battle Ground / Vancouver that offers spectacular views of Adams, Rainier, Hood, St. Helens, Jefferson, and Saddle Mountain (at the coast) on clear days. See my trip report here: Silver Star TR April 2013 However, I'd recommend the southern approach; saves you a mile and some elevation gain! Â Also Saddle Mountain in Clatsop county!! Quote
ArchimedesDog Posted January 7, 2014 Author Posted January 7, 2014 Thanks, I used to be an advanced hiker but am now not in good shape. I've never been an ice-axe hiker but I lived in Minnesota much of my life so I'm probably somewhere above the level of the average beginner in comfort with ice. Quote
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