Читать книгу Day Hikes in the Pacific Northwest - Don J. Scarmuzzi - Страница 23

16	HOGBACK MOUNTAIN

ELEVATION: 6793 ft, with 2400 ft vertical gain

DISTANCE: 5¼ mi up, 10¼ mi round-trip clockwise loop down ski area

DURATION: 3–4 hours up, 6–7 hours round-trip loop

DIFFICULTY: Strenuous. Steady, steep only briefly, scrambling, bugs/ticks possible

TRIP REPORT: Often overlooked from the nearby busy Pacific Crest Trail in the summer is this sweet little double-peaked mountain directly above White Pass Ski Area. The E bowl between summits is easily attained via a short climb from the highest chair lift and is skied on powder days. It is also possible to cross-country ski or snowshoe the route in winter, but you will have to contend with downhill skiers and snowboarders while the ski resort is open, making it somewhat unnerving. Better to go before or after they are in operation, which is usually December through April or May. There is plenty of the white stuff for enthusiasts outside of these months and the packed snow can be walked over in June or July with the last of it lingering as wildflowers abound everywhere else on the slopes (be careful with softer snow around tree wells). Hogback Mountain is the most northern point in Goat Rock Wilderness, which tends to hold snow longer than most regions and is a vast expanse of wonder and amazement tucked away N of Mount Adams (SE of Mount Rainier). Northwest Forest Pass required, and no restroom is present at the small parking circle, but there is a gas station conveniently ½ mi back at the top of White Pass.

Lenticular clouds over Mount Rainier from the White Pass Ski Area.

TRAILHEAD: PCT on White Pass. Take I-5 S from Seattle to exit 142A (Auburn), merge onto WA-18 E to WA-164 E (Enumclaw) to WA-410 E (Chinook Pass Highway), turn slight right onto WA-123 S, turn left onto US-12 E 13 mi to the White Pass area and the TH on the right (just past the White Pass Campground and Trailheads sign that reads “White Pass S TH” at milepost 151¾). From Portland, take I-5 N to exit 68 (Morton/Yakima), turn right on US-12 E 86 mi passing Morton (hint: speed trap), Randle, and Packwood to White Pass and follow as above (113 mi, 2½ hours from Seattle; 161 mi, 2½–3 hours from Portland).

ROUTE: At the PCT TH on White Pass, fill out a free self-issue Wilderness Permit, then begin the clockwise loop past the sign that barely identifies itself as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail 2000. Cross the bridge over S Fork Clear Creek immediately to slowly rise 1½ mi and 4 switchbacks S up through thick forest on a wide trail. Plenty of small pines and brush along the creek before views of Mount Rainier emerge through the trees to the left. Navigate a few blowdowns without much difficulty, as trees aren’t too huge, up 5 more switchbacks steadily S to a rock field. On the eleventh switchback (total) pass another rock field and arrive at Ginnette Lake 2 mi and about 1 hour in. The tree-surrounded small lake melts off much slower than Leech Lake at the pass and makes for a nice pit stop.

Stay E of the lake easily on the PCT ¼ mi to a juncture with rougher Trail 1144 taking off left (NE) from a wide saddle toward Twin Peaks a mile away. Head right (SW) on the PCT instead, up a wide, easy ridge section 1 mi to an intersection with a wider ski road moving right (N) toward Pigtail Peak (on the ski area). Make a note that this will be the return route for the loop trail down the more open slopes to finish. Continue ¾ mi, crossing ski runs under a chair lift to stay on the PCT proper to the top of that four-person chair lift.

Curious elk near the TH on White Pass in Washington.

See Mount Rainier as big as life and finally see the open summit plateau of Hogback Mountain further up the ridge past the top of the next chair lift you’ll be aiming for. You could make a beeline toward the top of the lift by crossing a steep meadow; or stay on the PCT hugging closer to the ridgeline on the left with better views of a large, sharp prominent rock just E of a little bump on the ridge, then meet the other path on the more prominent ridge ahead. Either way it’s only ¼ mi or so from the top of that four-person chair lift to where you should leave the PCT at about 6200 ft to stay on the high ridge. The other option is to stay on the PCT briefly as it leaves the ridge left (S) and then scramble up a very steep, rocky gully to the right (W) to a small saddle between the double summit area with no trail. Both options are the steepest part of the hike, the ridge crest being preferential with constant views of the Goat Rocks and others.

Deep snow still covers most of the route into late June with ice finally melting off Ginnette Lake.

From the high ridge, right to left as you see them, are Chimney Rock, Mount St. Helens, Johnson Peak, Hawkeye Point, Old Snowy Mountain, Ives Peak, Mount Adams, and Gilbert Peak! No path necessary to finish the thinning ridge from the fake or first summit (which only appears higher as is usually the case when summits are close to the same elevation) a hundred yards to the highest point crossing a saddle halfway. There is some volcanic pumice-like solid rock, low pines, and a few old gnarls to negotiate without trouble. More fantastic vistas with Twin Peaks, Round Mountain, and Clear and Rimrock Lakes to the NE; Mount Rainier is directly behind the lower summit to the NW. Be careful through late spring with snow cornices building near thin sections of ridge from the protuberant boulder below to the peaks.

Return roughly the same way 1¾ mi down to the ski road intersection near Pigtail Peak. Consider taking the loop, which is only slightly shorter but with more wildflowers. Be careful not to lose Trail 688 due to lingering snow on the wider ridgeline or get pulled too far to the right (S) near the intersection. Turn left (N) on Trail 688 (unsigned) for the loop toward multiple chair lifts on the top of Pigtail Peak but traverse right of the ridge crest on the road around the base of that summit block easily (avoid left fork). Descend the road or steeper ski runs between a few tiny tarn ponds, then stay on the wide gravel road down ski runs for the best route. You come close to the PCT momentarily but stay on the road as it winds WNW down with better views of Mount Rainier, the ski resort, Leech Lake, and Spiral Butte’s steep rocky face. Near the bottom of the ski area bushwhack or take trails N to the large parking lot. Follow the driveway briefly left to US-12 or take the path from the NE corner of the lot down to the highway. Walk right (NE) less than ½ mi carefully along US-12 to the TH on the right to finish the loop.