Pass Required at Trailhead

This is a steep but easily accessed 8 point peak near the town of Mazama, WA.  If you're in the Twisp, Winthrop or Mazama area, it's a must do.  It contains a fire lookout tower and great views of the Methow valley and North Cascade peaks.  It's only 2.5 miles long, has a fire lookout tower at the top but some sections are very steep.  Call ahead to the ranger's office and see if Lighting Bill will be in the fire lookout.  If so, be sure to bring him a cold beer!

K7ATN and N7LKL activated Washington's Larch Mountain on Saturday, 2/2/13.  We hiked in on the forest service road from the west side, starting near the Larch Corrections Center (directions below and find the eastside approach here: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/larch-mountain-silver-star.)  We were able to drive up the service road quite a ways but hiked the last 1.5 miles with approximately 1200 feet gain.  Weather conditions were excellent - sunny and not too cold.

UPDATE Dec 2021 - Badger Butte (and other summits in the area) are not accessible by regular motor vehicle from Dec 1 to April 1 due to closure of NF-2610 and other routes to vehicles more than 50 inches wide. A hike, snowshoe, ski, bike, snowmobile or dog sled would be the way to go. See the photo below. 

Taylor and I returned to Tumalo Mountain this weekend to score a rare 6 pointer in winter, with a justified bonus. Tumalo Mountain is a strenuous, yet technically easy ascent. The trail up to the summit leaves from the Dutchman Flats Sno-Park, just north of the entrance to the Mt Bachelor ski area on Cascade Lakes Highway. Because this is a popular winter recreation area, the parking area is packed with people looking to snow-machine, ski, and snowshoe to the top.

2012-02-12 Tumtum Peak W7W/RS-059 CN96br59

I could not go out for a long time. I had a lot of problems and was afraid of avalanche danger. Previous weekend I went out for an expedition hike towards Ararat peak. Avalanche danger was low, with declining tendency. Despite this I still did not want to go on any steep open terrain. Many would not think that even a small amount of snow can kill you.

There is no trail to this summit.  Take Hwy 20 East from Burlington.  3 miles after the town of Concrete turn left on a logging road marked "Jackman Creek Road".  Follow this road for approx 11 miles to (N48.57127 W121.63747).  This can be accomplished by staying on the main road and not taking any spurs (most are gated) This waypoint is actually about 100 yards up a spur road.  Continue past this waypoint up the spur road where it will terminate in a gravel pit in approx. 1/4 mile. During summer months a 4WD vehicle is not necessary. 

There appears to be a false summit around 5160 feet near the "end" of the trail to Bandera that is about half mile and 80 feet of elevation gain to the actual summitr.

Here is my video trip report from August 11, 2012 of Sauk Mountain in Skagit County, WA.  This is a relativaly easy hike (less than 2 miles, about 1,200 ft. of gain) and is right off of Highway 20 near Concrete, WA.  If you're traveling over the Cascade Pass, it's a must do.  Be aware that it's a very popular hike. 

The trail was difficult at this time of year with significant blowdown from an ice storm in February. I actually turned back twice but then decided to give it one more try. (Well, two more.) The attached photo shows the obliterated trail - the blowdown went on for almost a mile. I also hit continuous snow at 2200 feet (Augspurger tops out near 3700). I eventually lost the trail again in the snow kicking steps and then was postholing for about an hour.

UPDATE MARCH 2022 - Permits required weekends April 23 to June 12, plus Memorial Day. 

Dog Mountain is a wonderful climb nine months of the year - but in March we went from spotty sun and 38F to snow blowing sideways at 25 mph and perhaps 27F in a partial white out. It's a bit less than eight miles round trip with 2900 feet of gain.