Trip Date: June 2, 2007
Hawkins Mountain Day Climb & Ski Descent
Big Boulder Creek Valley
Hawkins Mountain (7120’+)
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Cle Elum Mountains
Area: Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest
Starting & Ending Point: Boulder DeRoux Trailhead at end of Big Boulder Road #4330-140 (Elev. 3650 feet)
Way Points: Big Boulder Creek Valley & Point 5202 & Hawkins Mountain summit (trail hike & off-trail hike & snow hike)
Summit: Hawkins Mountain (off-trail hike & snow hike via South Arm—Southwest Slope; ski descent via Southwest Slope—Southwest Arm)
Approximate Stats: 7 miles traveled; 3600 feet gained & lost; 8.1 hours elapsed.
Related Posts
Big Boulder Loop + Hawkins Mountain – September 23, 2018
Hawkins Mountain Summit Loop – October 19, 2002
Full Trip Report
On Saturday, I was joined by Beth, Ed, Mark, Larry, and Peter for a climb and ski descent of Hawkins Mountain in the Cle Elum Mountains. We were a few weeks too late for the prime corn snow season but managed to tease out a nice trip nonetheless. This spring’s snowmelt rate seems to be a couple weeks ahead of average, so it’s necessary to get pretty high in order to find a solid snowpack.
Starting at the Boulder DeRoux Trailhead, we hiked almost 2 miles up Trail #1392 toward Gallagher Head Lake, then cut northeasterly cross-country to Point 5202. The heat was stifling on this mostly open hillslope, but we eventually got onto the mountain’s curving south ridge (“South Hawkins Arm”) with a welcome breeze.
- Ascending South Hawkins Arm
Although patchy snow started right away, it didn’t turn solid until a thousand feet higher.
- Climbing Summit Ridge
We reached the broad summit in mid afternoon (4.7 hours up). This sprawling, prominent peak offers fine views of Mt. Stuart, the Teanaway Mountains, and the Snoqualmie Mountains.
- Group On Summit
- Mt Stuart From Summit
For our descent, we donned skis just below the summit ridge and headed straight down the southwest slope for 700 feet. When trees closed in, we traversed over to the southwest ridge (“Southwest Hawkins Arm”) and skied a snow ribbon down to 5500 feet.
- Peter Skiing Down West Slope
- Mark Skiing Down West Slope
- Larry Skiing Down West Slope
From snow’s end, it was a westerly boot plunge to the trail in broiling late-afternoon sun, thereby closing our loop, followed by an easy mile of hiking back to the trailhead (2.5 hours down). All in all, this was the kind of trip only a dedicated ski-mountaineer could love—and we did!
Route Map
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge…
