Trip Date: June 21-23, 2013

Clark Mountain Climbing Trip

White River
Boulder Basin
Boulder Pass
Walrus Glacier aka Clark Glacier
Clark Mountain (8602′)

Trip Report Summary

Region: North-Central Washington Cascades

Sub-Region: DaKobed–White Range

Area: Glacier Peak Wilderness

Starting & Ending Point: White River Trailhead at end of White River Road (Elev. 2300 feet)

Way Points: Boulder Creek Bridge & Boulder Pass Trail junction & Upper Boulder Creek crossing & Boulder Basin (trail hike)

Campsite: Boulder Basin

Sidetrip: Boulder Pass & East Clark Ridge Bench & Clark Mountain saddle & Clark Mountain summit (trail hike & snow climb)

Summit: Clark Mountain (snow climb via Walrus Glacier—East Ridge) 

Approximate Stats: 26 miles traveled; 7300 feet gained & lost.

Related Posts

Clark Mtn via Southeast Couloir—Upper Walrus Glacier – June 1981

Clark Mtn via Walrus Glacier—East Ridge – June 1979

Full Trip Report

Last weekend, I teamed up with Steve, Deb, Lisa, and Eileen for a climb of Clark Mountain in the DaKobed Range.  Fay joined us for the hike up to base camp, which served as her jumpoff point for climbing two peaks in the nearby White Mountains.

Day 1: Trailhead to Boulder Basin

We hiked 4 miles up the White River Trail and then turned right onto the Boulder Pass Trail.  Several miles up the latter trail, we had to wade across Boulder Creek (no bridge) just below the point where it splits into three shallow but frigid streams.  Along the way, we saw THREE porcupines over a stretch of 3 or 4 miles.  This was quite remarkable, since none of us could remember seeing a porcupine in the Cascades before.  One of the little critters was strolling up the trail in front of us and then scampered up a tree when we came within a few yards of his spikey rump.

Upon reaching snow-filled Boulder Basin (5.6 hours + 3000 feet from TH), we made camp on a forested rib and enjoyed views of Clark Mountain’s craggy Southeast Peak and curving rampart.

Day 2: Clark Mountain Summit Climb

Leaving Fay in camp to entertain herself on uncharted summits to the southeast, the rest of us headed northeasterly to 6300-foot Boulder Pass.  We dropped down steep snow on the other side of the pass, then ascended to a 6700-foot bench on Clark’s eastern arm.  This bench provided a good place to rope up for the next leg of our trek.  We wrapped around the eastern arm and got our first view of the Walrus Glacier.

Although the Walrus Glacier is not the most common route on Clark Mountain, it is without a doubt the most scenic.  If fact, it may well be the most esthetic non-technical glacier climb in the eastern Cascades.  Interestingly, Beckey calls out the Walrus Glacier as being a relatively healthy specimen, having exhibited an advance of more than 1000 feet in the mid-20th Century—during a time when most glaciers receded noticeably.  This factoid prompted me to later dig out my old photos from a Walrus Glacier climb in June 1979.  A visual comparison of new and old photos (see below) reveals only a minor amount of recession over the past 34 years, which is good news for future generations of climbers.

We zigzagged our way up a moderately steep chute on the left (southern) margin of the glacier, stepping over several narrow crevasses and tiptoeing across a snowbridge over one large crevasse.  Once on the gentle upper part of the glacier, we wound our way toward the distant summit wedge.  Low clouds created annoyingly flat lighting conditions through here, but visibility was never too bad.  Our progress was slowed by 6 to 12 inches of soft, fresh snow.

We skirted the upper south face of the summit wedge on a steep snowfield and finished with a short scramble to the summit rocks (5.9 hours from camp).

The summit register contained numerous entries over a span of only 3 years—a testimony to the magnetic appeal of this grand landmark mountain.  We stayed for 45 minutes, watching the cloud ceiling repeatedly rise and fall.  Naturally, the weather didn’t completely clear until we had left the summit.

We slowly made our way back down the glacier, marveling at the interplay of clouds and sunlight on the soaring Southeast Peak and jagged ridge horns.  In such a spectacular setting, we savored our descent and didn’t reach Boulder Basin until nearly 8:00pm (5.6 hours from summit).  Fay was waiting for us in camp, happy to have tucked in her two objective peaks.

Day 3: Boulder Basin to Trailhead

The forecast called for afternoon showers and possible thunderstorms, but we managed to get all the way to the trailhead (4.6 hours from camp) before any drops fell.  However, the muggy weather was just right to hatch the first round of mosquitoes for this summer. Better pack insect repellent from now on.

Photo Gallery

Click to enlarge…