[Bob2005]

The area above the SE steep cliffs along Snow Lake has always fascinated me when hiking around Snow Lake. The area I'm thinking of appears to be a doable scramble from the saddle between the Alpental trail basin and Snow. I scoped it out a bit recently, following the old Snow Lake trail from the saddle a bit, then heading N across a sort of meadow. It appears one could then scramble up a ridge, follow it to get to a boulder field. Any ideas?

BelowChairPeak.jpg

Map background copyright TopoZone.com.

Bob

[lopper]

Bob2005: Your attraction to that area S of Snow Lake has been shared by many. It is not a difficult route....there are boot-beaten paths along much of it. Highly recommended. Here are two shots that were taken up there last September

SnowLkHighDive

slab_walker

[Bob2005]

Ah, most excellent! Thanks for the confirmation and photos. It looks as amazing from that side as it does looking over at it. I'll definitely give 'er a go! Bob

[El Puma]

A couple of years ago my brother and I circumnavigated Snow Lake (counterclockwise) via those upper slopes shown. We traversed the inlet creek on the west end and scrambled up the forested rocks. Exposure was fairly minimal and "climbing" not difficult or time-consuming. We may have been more lucky than smart with route-finding (read: not getting stuck below an unclimbable cliff) but never had to backtrack at all. Definitely a worthwhile adventure...have fun! Alternatively you can turn this into a circumnavigation of Chair Peak if you go up through Melakwa and keep right as you get below Chair Lake. Just deposit a bike at the Snow Lake TH before driving back down to Denny Creek and you're set!

[Bob2005]

OK, did the bushwhack and got up there. We did the lower red line route. We don't think the upper red line (following the ridge) is a good/simple route, but we'd love to hear otherwise. We scoped the rest of the route to Chair Peak Lake, etc. It looked do-able, but we couldn't see the entire route. Beautiful country it is. Thanks for the encouragement. - Bob

[puzzlr]

Thanks for finishing off the story -- cool to see plans come to fruition.

[Bob2005]

No kidding! It has been 35+ years I've been admiring that landscape (while hiking around Snow to Gem). - Bob

[BillyTheMountain]

Indians are hiding in the rocks of this area, be careful. Transformation is there and waiting for you.