Trip Date: April 25, 2009
Red Top Mountain Ski Tour
Blue “Y”
Teanaway Ridge
Red Top Mountain / Lookout (5361’)
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Teanaway Mountains
Area: Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest
Starting & Ending Point: Blue Creek Road #9738 snow blockage (3200 feet)
Way Points: Blue “Y” & Blue Creek Basin & Teanaway Ridge & Medicine Creek & Blue Creek (snow hike & ski tour via Road 9738—Road 9702—spur road—Road 9702)
Summit: Red Top Mountain (ski ascent & ski descent via South Ridge)
Approximate Stats: 11 miles traveled; 2200 feet gained & lost; 3.3 hours up; 1.7 hours down.
Full Trip Report
Thwarted by wet weather on the west side, Eileen and Fay and I headed over to the Blewett Pass area for our ski tour on Saturday. We thought Red Top Mountain would make a good tour and offer better weather. We were right on both counts.
Leaving US-97 near Mineral Springs, we drove 1.5 miles up the Blue Creek Road, then walked another mile on snowy road with sporadic bare patches. Continuous snowcover began at the major road junction (Blue “Y”) at elev. 3600 feet. From there, we skied 2 miles to an inconspicuous junction with an abandoned spur road at elev. 4400 feet, then followed this vague passageway northward for another mile.
When directly under the summit lookout cabin, we switch-backed up light forest to the broad ridge crest immediately south of Red Top Mountain. A short skin ascent through forest and open slopes got us to the summit.
- Skinning To Lookout
The lookout cabin perches impressively on a cliff of red volcanic rock. It was locked up and shuttered for the winter season, so we weren’t able to get onto the catwalk.
- Jim Below Lookout Cabin
Clear skies offered good views of the Stuart Range, but it was stormy looking farther west.
- Stuart Range From Red Top Mountain
A chilly wind prompted us to take shelter on the lee side of a nearby storage building.
- Eileen and Fay At Storage Building
For our descent, we stayed on the main road, which trends due south 2 miles to Dickey Creek Pass before dropping into the Blue Creek drainage. This made for a nice loop trip. Snow conditions alternated between icy hard-pack to soft corn, depending on the aspect, so skiing was a bit tricky. Nonetheless, Red Top Mtn provides a very fine winter or spring tour destination.
Photo Gallery
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