Sorcery Mountain hit my radar after reading rasing3hikers TR from this past March and I headed up there yesterday to see how it was.
The Goat Creek + W ridge route seems like it's best done when the the Dingford Creek Trail is relatively snow free but the off-trail section to Horseshoe Lake and the summit has a good snow cover, which means early winter or early spring are likely to have the best conditions. My timing yesterday felt a little early: still plenty of brush on the way up to Horseshoe Lake and some of the bumps and boulders on the W ridge of Sorcery would've been smoother with more snow.
Overcoat, Chimney Rock, the Lemahs, and Burnt Boot
Rainier, Chair, Kaleetan
Garfield and Treen
Horseshoe Lake, didn't look frozen enough to walk on
There wasn't enough snow on Dingford Creek to need traction or snowshoes. I put snowshoes on part way up the climb to Horseshoe Lake and kept them on to the top. Snow and slush bombs were constant for most of the day and anything in the sun was melting, but there was the occasional shaded open area with deep wallowy powder.
The summit views were fantastic and the approach not overly challenging, but if I were to go back I'd try it in the spring with a deeper snowpack.
Overcoat, Chimney Rock, the Lemahs, and Burnt Boot
That's some beautiful lighting on those peaks. Such a clear blue bird day up there. Well done. I've only been as far as Horseshoe Lake and that was tough with the brush and not enough snow cover. ~z
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