[some names]

We really enjoy the Moolock/Bessemer area for snowshoeing. Monday was a great day for views. We started up the Bessemer road from the DNR blue gate around 7:30 am. We made good time and cut off about a mile by doing a compass bearing to go directly up hill through the woods on the lower portion. The moss in the woods was really beautiful. At about 2400’, back on the road, we put on snowshoes. The snow was really decent for snowshoeing. The morning crust held the snowshoes well, and up the road we went. The views of the Mid Fork Valley start at about 3000’.

A view of Granite Mtn and West Granite, Silver Pk (l)

When we got to the saddle between Bessemer and Moolock, 4000’, we went directly up the southwest ridge several hundred feet through the woods and contoured around to the southeast ridge to avoid some steeper slopes.

Moolock Mtn from Moo-Bess saddle

Middle Fork valley from SW slope of S. Bessemer

We soon topped out on the gentler almost plateau like upper slopes of South Bessemer, with views all around! Really cool to look down on the Pratt River- Mid Fork River junction. This upper part of the mountain has sparse trees and many views. A nice rising wander put us on the summit.

Windblown surface

S. Bessmer summit - windy!

Enjoyable snowshoeing

The views from the top were wonderful, 360 degrees. Mount Baker and Glacier were out and parts of Mt Rainier. The Olympics and Seattle could also be seen. We’ve been here previously but without tall the views. The payment for the views was wind. It was quite windy! There were some good sheltered places for lunch. It was fun to watch the clouds start to gather and slowly cover the volcanoes.

Moolock Mtn

Big cornices on Mt Defiance, Revolution Pk (r)

Seattle visible in the distance

Pano - view east from S. Bessemer

Granite Mt and West Granite, Silver Pk (r)

Mt Garfield, Mt Hinman and Mt Daniel behind

Bessemer Mt

Mt Hinman and Mt Daniel

Huckleberry Mtn (l) and Mt Thompson (r)

Huckleberry Mtn (l) and Mt Thompson (r)

After about 2 hrs we started down. We used some snow covered road system to come down the upper mountain, generally drifted and somewhat steep. The snow had softened enough to make good grip on the side hilling.

Leaving S. Bessemer

Broad summit area

Dropping down off the summit area

Windy!

Fun snowshoeing above the Middle Fork

Bessemer Mtn

Gentle rolling terrain with great views

Above the junction of Pratt River and the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River

Neat to see the rivers - Pratt valley so straight!

Middle Fork views

Rooster Mtn (aka The Ark)

Mt Garfield summit

Lennox Mtn (l) and Canoe Pk (r)

Goat Mtn (N. Fork Snoqualmie)

Burnt Boot Ridge

Chikamin Pk

Big Snow Mtn

Silver Pk

Drifted road on side of S. Bessemer - steepish in places

Drifted road

Moolock Mtn

Nearing the Moo-Bess saddle

Middle Fork valley from the Bessemer Road

Somewhere around 3000’ we encountered some postholing with the snowshoes. We took them off at 2400’ when we ran out of snow. We got to the car and started driving home when the rain finally hit us. A beautiful day in the mountains!

[Bernardo]

What a great report. Thanks so much for posting! Really enjoyed the pictures.

[fourteen410]

[zephyr]

Great photos especially of distant peaks. Nice to have the captions. Y'all make it look fun up there. I have been a few years ago with a couple of buddies. Might be time to go back. ~z

[RichP]

The clouds make everything look so dramatic. I haven't been to South Bessemer or Moolock. Looking forward to it.

[mbravenboer]

You took some great photos! I enjoyed looking over all the peaks. Some unexpected view angles from there for me

[Josh Journey]

Great photos, love the contrast.

[puzzlr]

Some of those shots are outstanding. The one of main Bessemer is so clear, and I like the light highlighting Burntboot.