Trip Date: August 26, 2006
Silvertip Peak Day Climb
Monte Cristo Townsite
Poodle Dog Pass
Silver Lake
Silvertip Peak aka Silver Tip Peak (6140 ft)
Trip Report Summary
Region: North-Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Monte Cristo Mountains
Area: Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
Starting & Ending Point: Monte Cristo Roadhead at Barlow Pass on Mountain Loop Highway (Elev. 2350 feet)
Way Points: South Fork Sauk River & Monte Cristo Townsite (bike ride); 76 Creek & Poodle Dog Pass & Silver Lake & Silvertip Ridge (trail hike & off-trail hike & rock scramble)
Summit: Silvertip Peak (rock scramble via South Ridge—Southwest Corner)
Approximate Stats: 17 miles traveled (8 miles on bikes + 9 miles on foot); 4200 feet gained & lost; 5.0 hours up; 3.3 hours down.
Full Trip Report
Here are photos and a map from Saturday’s climb of Silvertip Peak in the Monte Cristo Mountains with Suzanne. Fred Beckey calls this a “popular objective,” and now we see why. It’s a pleasant approach, a fun summit scramble, and a marvelous viewpoint. Starting from Barlow Pass, we rode bikes up to Monte Cristo Townsite, then hiked 3 miles of nicely rebuilt trail to Silver Lake.
- Silvertip Peak Above Silver Lake
From the lake outlet, we ascended heather slopes and footpaths southwesterly to the ridge crest, then followed the crest in a arc around the lake (dropping below cliffs on the peak’s craggy south ridge).
- Cadet Peak To Columbia Peak From Silvertip Ridge
- Traversing toward the summit block
The southwest corner of the summit block goes by way of an exposed-but-solid Class 4 step. We didn’t rope for the ascent but were glad to have a rope for the rappel back down.
- Suzanne Climbing Class 4 Step
The summit offers exceptionally nice views of all the Monte Cristo Mountains and Skykomish Mountains. It was a beautifully clear and warm day, which begged for a long stay.
- Gothic Peak and Del Campo Peak
- Wilmans Peaks and Columbia Peak
- Foggy Peak and Glacier Peak
We enjoyed a quick splash in Silver Lake on the way down. Another notable highlight of the day’s climb was Suzanne’s new monochromatic climbing outfit. I think it’s a fashionably metro-retro look, but you can judge for yourselves.
- Rappelling over Class 4 Step
Route Map
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge…
