Trip Date: January 22, 2022
Arrowhead Mountain Snowshoe Climb
Northeast Arrowhead Ridge Crest
Arrowhead Mountain (6030 ft)
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Upper Icicle Mountains
Area: Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest
Starting & Ending Point: WSDOT Maintenance Facility driveway on Highway 2 (Elev. 2950 feet)
Way Points: Nason Creek Bridge & Powerline Road junction (road walk); BNSF Railroad crossing & Northeast Arrowhead Ridge crest & Arrowhead Mountain summit (snowshoe hike & climb)
Summit: Arrowhead Mountain (snowshoe ascent via North Slope—Northeast Ridge)
Approximate Stats: 6.3 miles traveled; 3450 feet gained & lost; 4.0 hours up; 2.2 hours down.
Related Post
>>> Arrowhead Mtn Snowshoe Climb via North Ridge – January 19, 2003
Full Trip Report
Looking for a safe and scenic snowshoe climb near Stevens Pass, Yoko, Debra, and I chose Arrowhead Mountain as our destination. I previously snowshoed up this peak many years ago via the north ridge but had been wanting to do the more conventional northeast ridge route. It turned out to be a good choice.
We pulled into the WSDOT Maintenance Facility driveway at 9:30am and parked next to one other car (there is room for five or six cars at the head of this driveway). The other car belonged to a solo snowshoer named Chris, and after chatting with him, it was agreed that we would join forces. We started by walking west on Highway 2 for about 500 yards, crossing the Nason Creek Bridge, to reach a discreet powerline access road that cuts sharply back to the east.
We followed an old snowshoe track along the powerline road for ¾ mile as it headed parallel to, and then diagonally across, the BNSF railroad. The valley-bottom snow was covered by a hard crust, so snowshoes were needed more for traction than flotation. Shortly after crossing the railroad, our powerline road reached a local high point at 2650 feet. The snowshoe track turned to the right here and went straight uphill through dense forest. We followed along and quickly discovered that it was very advantageous to stay on this track because it provided a solid walking surface, whereas the adjacent snow had a terrible breakable crust.
Our ascent route proceeded due south to a 3500-foot nose and then began curving slightly to the southeast. The forest gradient was generally moderate, with only a few steeper locations. We gained Arrowhead’s northeast ridge at 4600 feet (2.6 hours + 2000 feet from cars) and took a welcome break. Debra decided to hold back here and have a more relaxing day while the rest of us pushed on.
With Chris in the lead, our trio headed directly up the ridge crest. A variable thickness of fresh but heavy snow covered the old crust, making progress a bit slower. However, this was offset by increasing views over to the Chiwaukum Mountains and out toward Mt. Daniel. It was also comforting to be on a ridge crest in these snow conditions.
In the final few hundred feet of ridge, the trees thinned out and the views fully opened up. It became obvious why this is such a popular snowshoe route; there is nothing truly unpleasant in the lower part, and the upper part is very esthetic. A high ceiling of altocumulus clouds had now formed overhead, adding an interesting texture to the whole scene.
Yoko and I caught up with Chris on the summit in early afternoon (4.0 hours + 3400 feet from cars). The weather was surprisingly mild and wind-free, so we all took a long lunch break to enjoy our surroundings. Big Chiwaukum Peak, The Bull’s Tooth, Jim Hill Mountain, and Rock Mountain are particularly attractive from this vantage.
For our descent, we easily followed our tracks back down the ridge crest, although the fresh snow had a tendency to slide atop the old crust. Now, we were really appreciating the afternoon cloud cover! Our descent of the forest slope was less enjoyable, especially when we wandered off the main track and punched through the weak crust. With much relief, we finally dropped onto the railroad and made a quick jaunt back to our cars (2.2 hours from summit). Debra was waiting for us with a big smile, having had a very pleasant trip herself, so it had been a good day for all.
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Equipment Comments
For more information regarding the various equipment that I used for this particular trip and that I typically use for this type of trip, see my gear reviews on the following pages:
>>> Backcountry Ski & Snowshoe Packs
>>> Wintertime Comfort Accessories
Route Map
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Photo Gallery
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