Trip Date: June 19-20, 2010
Axis Peak Climbing Trip
Little Eightmile Lake
Eightmile Lake
Axis Peak (7550’)
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Icicle Mountains
Area: Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Starting & Ending Point: Eightmile Lake Trailhead on Eightmile Creek Road (Elev. 3300 feet)
Way Points: Eightmile Creek & Pioneer Creek & Little Eightmile Lake & Eightmile Lake (trail hike)
Campsite: Eightmile Lake
Summit: Axis Peak (snow climb & rock scramble via Northeast Couloir—East Col—East Ridge)
Approximate Stats: 10 miles traveled; 4600 feet gained & lost.
Full Trip Report
I hooked up with Fay, Kevin K, Beth, Karen D, and Eileen on a cloudy weekend to climb Axis Peak in the Icicle Creek area. This is the highest point on a granitic ridge separating Eightmile Lake from Stuart Lake, and it provides a marvelous view of the all the big nordwands in the Stuart Range.
- Puffy Clouds Over Mt Cashmere
Day 1: Trailhead to Eightmile Lake + Axis Peak Climb
We backpacked into Eightmile Lake on Saturday morning, set up camp, and then headed out for Axis Peak. Our route started with some unpleasant traversing around the lake’s south shore, through trees and brush, and across slippery slopes, eventually reaching the mouth of a large northeast couloir. We had feared that this couloir might throw some tricky cliff bands in our way, but it turned out to be a white-carpeted elevator to the ridge crest.
- Climbing Northeast Snow Couloir of Axis Peak
- Nearing Top Of Northeast Couloir
From the terminating col, we traversed westward and upward over mixed snow and rock to gain the summit horn (4.1 hours from camp).
- Group On Summit of Axis Peak
We’d had swirling clouds and occasional rain showers all afternoon, but the weather was clear enough for good summit viewing. Every north face from Aasgard Pass to Goat Pass was on display. The giant facade of Mt Stuart is stupendous from here, and it was enhanced by the play of fog sweeping over from the south.
- Mt Stuart With Cloud Edging
- Argonaut Peak and Argonaut Spires
- Colchuck Lake and Dragontail Peak
On descent, we stayed lower on our traverse back to the col, then enjoyed a 1500-foot glissade down the snow couloir. We were back in camp before dark (2.2 hours from summit), making good use of the solstice daylight.
- Moon Over Axis Peak
Day 2: Eightmile Lake to Trailhead
Heavy rain started somewhere around 2:00am, so we were all glad to have the summit tucked in. After breakfast, Beth and Karen headed off for other adventures, whereas the rest of us made a wet hike out to the trailhead (1.4 hours from camp).
Photo Gallery
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