Trip Date: July 28-29, 1984
Dip Top – Daniel Summit Loop: Deception Pass to Dip Top Gap to Mt. Daniel to Cathedral Pass
Hyas Lake
Deception Pass
Marmot Lake
No-Name Lake & Jade Lake
Dip Top Gap
Pea Soup Lake
Mount Daniel: west peak (7986 ft)
Peggy’s Pond
Cathedral Pass
Squaw Lake
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Regions: Miller–Foss Mountains & Snoqualmie Range
Area: Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Starting & Ending Point: Tucquala Meadows Trailhead at end of Cle Elum River Road (Elev. 3400 feet)
Way Points: Hyas Lake & Deception Pass & Marmot Lake & No-Name Lake & Jade Lake & Dip Top Gap & Pea Soup Lake & Lynch Glacier & Mt. Daniel summit & Hyas Glacier & Peggy’s Pond & Cathedral Pass & Squaw Lake & Cle Elum River footbridge (trail hike & off-trail hike & rock scramble & snow climb)
Campsite: Jade Lake (Elev. 5500 feet)
Summit: Mt. Daniel (snow climb via Lynch Glacier; descent via Hyas Glacier)
Approximate Stats: 19.6 miles traveled; 6700 feet gained & lost.
Related Posts
>>> Dip Top Loop: Marmot Lake to Pea Soup Lake to Peggy’s Pond – September 2024
>>> Mt Daniel: east peak + middle peak + west peak via Circle Lake – August 2016
>>> Dip Top Loop: Marmot Lake to Pea Soup Lake to Peggy’s Pond – August 1978
Full Trip Report
The most common and most direct route up Mt. Daniel is via Cathedral Pass, Peggy’s Pond, and either the Hyas Glacier or the southeast ridge. However, Craig and I were looking for more of an alpine adventure, so we elected to climb the mountain as part of bigger loop over Deception Pass, Dip Top Gap, and Cathedral Pass. I had attempted this summit carry-over six years ago but got thwarted by foul weather. This time, we had much better weather and a very successful loop.
Day 1: Trailhead to Jade Lake
On a cloudy Saturday morning, we left the Tucquala Meadows Trailhead and hiked up to Deception Pass, then over to Marmot Lake, then up past No-Name Lake to Jade Lake. There, we made camp near the foggy lake shore (9.7 miles + 3200 feet from TH).
Day 2: Jade Lake to Summit to Trailhead
We awoke to residual fog over the lake but clear skies above. Anticipating a great day, we excitedly booted southward up the snow couloir to Dip Top Gap, a distinctive saddle between Dip Top Peak and Lynch Peak. This saddle gave us a stunning view of majestic Mt. Daniel and the Lynch Glacier, which flows down the mountain’s northern flank and spills into Pea Soup Lake.
We crossed through Dip Top Gap and made a rightward descending traverse over to the outlet stream on the western edge of Pea Soup Lake. Once across the outlet, we ascended a slabby rock rib for several hundred feet, then began a leftward diagonal ascent of the Lynch Glacier. Snow conditions on the glacier were excellent, and the crevasses were easy to avoid.
We topped out on the Lynch Glacier very close to the west peak (true summit) and then made a short snow climb and rock scramble to finish our ascent. Being the topographic centerpiece of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Mt. Daniel provides great views in all directions.
To complete our alpine loop, we traversed southeasterly to the Hyas Glacier (really just a snowfield), then descended to Peggy’s Pond. From there, we followed the trail over to Cathedral Pass and down to our starting point at the Tucquala Meadows Trailhead (9.9 miles + 3500 feet from Camp 1). It had been a fabulous two-day trek!
Route Map & Profile
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Photo Gallery
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