Trip Date: August 29 – September 1, 2008
Mt. Arriva & Fisher Peak Climbing Trip
Easy Pass
Fisher Creek Meadows
Silent Pass
Silent Lakes
Mount Arriva (8215′)
Fisher Peak (8040’+)
Trip Report Summary
Region: Northeastern Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Ragged Range
Area: North Cascades National Park
Starting & Ending Point: Easy Pass Trailhead on Highway 20 (Elev. 3700 feet)
Way Points: Granite Creek & Easy Pass Creek & Easy Pass & Fisher Creek Meadows & Upper Fisher Creek Basin & Silent Gully & Silent Pass & Upper Silent Lake (trail hike & off-trail hike & rock scramble)
Campsite: Upper Silent Lake (Elev. 7000 feet)
Summit: Mt. Arriva (off-trail hike & rock scramble via South Slope—South Ridge)
Summit: Fisher Peak (rock scramble & rock climb via Northwest Ridge)
Approximate Stats: 19 miles traveled; 11,200 feet gained & lost.
Related Posts
Mt Arriva via South Ridge + Fisher Peak via Northwest Ridge – July 2019
Full Trip Report
Eileen and I spent Friday thru Sunday of Labor Day Weekend at Silent Lakes in North Cascades National Park. This was our honeymoon (sort of) and we were ably chaperoned by Fay, Kevin, Beth, and Don D. Although the weather forecast had been unfavorable and deteriorating, we were determined to tuck in Mt. Arriva and Fisher Peak. We succeeded on both but the weekend was filled with all manner of ups and downs.
Day 1: Trailhead to Silent Lakes
We all hiked over Easy Pass, then went up through the meadows and talus of Fisher Creek Basin until reaching the base of a distinct, narrow gully that leads to Silent Pass and Silent Lakes.
- Hiking Up Fisher Creek Meadows
The “Silent Gully” was 800 feet of unpleasant scree, loose rock, sand, and mud, crowned with 200 feet of boilerplate snow. Since none of us had crampons, the snowfield was a bit unnerving, and we knew it could be problematic during our return trip.
- Ascending Silent Gully to Silent Pass
We topped out in late afternoon just as a wind-driven freezing rain kicked up. Camp was hastily made on a heather bench near Upper Silent Lake (7.0 hours from TH).
- Black Peak from camp
Day 2 (AM): Mt. Arriva Summit Climb
Saturday morning was cold but partly sunny. We headed out for Mt. Arriva at 9:15am, crossing the ridge west of Silent Lake at 7200 feet and then contouring westerly across a long series of heather and scree slopes.
- Morning At Upper Silent Lake
- Sunny Morning At Camp
- Heading for Mount Arriva
After about 1/3 mile, we ascended to a rib and dropped into a big talus basin below the summit rampart. We climbed to a pronounced notch (7760 feet) in the south ridge and scrambled up nice rock to the summit block. Here, the route ahead was confusing, and we spread out to scope the options. Ultimately, we found it best to climb up a narrow defile (formed by an eroded black dike) until able to traverse leftward on a sloping ramp to reach the south ridge again, and then scramble up the crest.
- On Key Ledge Below Mt Arriva Summit
We summited shortly after noon (3.2 hours from camp). Swirling fog and clouds made for intermittent views of the surrounding peaks.
- Group On Mt Arriva Summit
We generally retraced our steps to reach camp, which was now in full sun.
- Silent Lakes From Arriva Ridge
Day 2 (PM): Fisher Peak Summit Climb
Don decided to try catching some fish in Silent Lakes while the rest of us headed up Fisher Peak. The west ridge route featured delightful Class 2-3 scrambling on fairly sound rock with moderate exposure.
- Fisher Peak Above Silent Lake
- Eileen Scrambling Up Fisher Peak
- Scrambling Fisher Peak summit ridge
A quick belay was used at one Class 4 dihedral, and we were all on top within 1.3 hours after leaving camp. Disappointingly, low clouds had moved in again.
- Eileen and Jim On Fisher Peak Summit
- Easy Pass and Graybeard Peak From Fisher Peak
- Golden Horn & Mt Hardy & Tower Mtn From Fisher Peak
We hurried back down the ridge and reached camp in the midst of a little snow flurry. Despite the cold weather and precipitation, both evenings in camp were highlighted by long social dinners with ample quantities of both chocolate and hooch (supplied by Kevin and Don).
- Camp Below Black Peak
Day 3: Silent Lakes to Trailhead
On Sunday, we awoke to frigid temperatures, blowing fog, and a skiff of snow. Hey, wasn’t this was forecasted to be our sunny day?
- Snow Dusted Campsite
By 8:00am, we were packed and ready to tangle with the dreaded snowfield leading into Silent Gully. Our concerns that the snow would be even harder now than it was during our ascent two days ago quickly proved true: the entire snowfield was rock hard!
- Fay and Don Awaiting Rappel
We managed to get down via two rappels off snow bollards, combined with some white-knuckle downclimbing, interspersed by much shivering on narrow ledges hacked into the ice.
- Eileen Rappelling Down Steep Snowfield
After that, the ugly scree/sand/mud/rock gully seemed almost pleasant. We rambled back down Fisher Creek Basin and over Easy Pass as the weather alternated between sunny and rainy.
- Descending Silent Gully
All in all, it seemed like a pretty traditional honeymoon to everyone involved…NOT!
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge…
