[dicey]

Mark and I first attempted Mt. Kent back in December. This trip ended before it really began when I was swept off my feet by an avalanche while traversing high on the slopes of McClellan Butte. A rematch was long overdue. Eric, Erin and I were considering some Teanaway action for Friday, but since I needed to be back in the city by 6pm, we decided to have a look closer in if the weather was agreeable. Driving East on I-90 in full on sun with blue skies convinced us we needn't drive any further east today! We parked at the 'cheaters' parking spot, which is where the McClellen Butte trail crosses road 9020 at about 2400ft(?), and started up the trail at 7:45am. The newly graded switchbacks eased us into a nice steady rhythm until Erin realized she had forgotten Kosmic's leash in the car. As she jogged back down, Eric and I plodded up, knowing she would have no problem catching back up to us - she didn't. Trail is snow free up to about 3900ft, where we encountered some patches of snow, but nothing to obscure the trail. After about 4000ft, the snow gets deeper and continuous, but at this point you just head SW, crossing many avalanche gullies along the way. At about 5000ft we began our long traverse, mostly following the route of the summer trail to where it curls around the nose of the ridge, and Mt. Rainier pops into view.

I iz Rainier. U like my hat?

From here we dropped down (200ft?) on snowfree grass/tree stump/rock slopes avoiding the talus slope on our left, until we reached the saddle below. We walked a snowcovered road a bit to the base of pt 4684. I thought it would be a good idea to just climb up and over this point rather than go around it, as I was a little nervous about being in the watershed. This turned out to be a not so good idea, as we couldn't stay on the ridge proper and had to do some nasty steep sidehilling on the west side to continue south. All that gain had to be lost again to drop down into the Alice Lake basin anyway

alice lakes basin

From the lakes, we headed up to the lowpoint on the ridge directly above the lakes, and just SW of Kent's summit (red 14 on USGS). As we were heading up and Erin was kicking steps up the steep slope (in her tennis shoes!) I noticed the clouds were looking rather cottonbally, and snapped this pic.

cool clouds

Once we gained the ridge we headed NE and reached the summit with no difficulty.

Erin and I on Kent

Eric and Kosmic on Kent 5-18-07

descending Kent 5-18-07

On the way out, we opted to drop west of the lakes and follow the road around pt 4684. Much easier We headed back up the slope to the McClellen Butte trail, which was melted out at the ridge turn. I was suprised to see a couple of folks there who had followed our foot prints and were contemplating continuing on to the summit of McClellan butte. It was 1:30, and we were contemplating hitting this summit as well, but I was concerned about time/traffic/getting back to Seattle. We decided to make a run for it, and agreed to turn back if we hadn't reached the summit by 2:30pm. We were soon back on solid snow after a few switchbacks, and trying to make good time. As I often do in the snow, I directed us too high, and we popped out a ways above the meadows. We dropped packs here, and glissaded down to the meadows (tarns in the summer), and I promptly led us too high again (impatience). We paralled the ridge on the NE side until we finally gained the notch at the base of the summit scramble. 2pm. Erin was not certain Kosmic could safely do the last bit of rock scrambling to the summit, so I offered to hold his leash at the notch so that Erin and Erik could complete the climb. We probably had time to tag team the summit, but since I had been up there many times before, I was ok keeping Kosmic company at the base.

McClellan Butte

Kosmic watches and worries

We never saw the couple again, so I assume they turned back where we ran into them. The race to the car was on. We left the summit area at 2:30, and made it back across the 'forever' traverse, back down the switchbacks and to the car by 4:30. I was home by 5:55! Thanks to ErinB, Eric and Kosmic for a great day in the mountains, and putting up with my rushing and time constraints.

[moosefish]

Sweet. The climb from Alice Lakes up to the summit looks a lot more fun in snow than when it's all melted out. Lots of loose rocks about the size of your head.

up from Alice Lakes in the summer

The sidehilling you had to do around 4684, was that on the west or east side?

east side of 4684

[dicey]

Moose, Yup, I think this peak is best climbed with snow to avoid 'talus horriblus', which is why I was wanting to get back to it sooner than later. We climbed straight up the nose of the ridge leading to pt4684 from the saddle. Thick, young trees pushed us to the west side near the top. Looks like the east side is more open according to your pic!

[moosefish]

The spot where picture was taken was open and there were two or three fields like that. However, there was quite a bit of young tree syndrome on that side that made the final push to the lakes a pain. Did you happen to get any pics of the next ridge over and point 4763?

[dicey]

Yes. I believe it's called the Duke of Kent, along with the Dutchess, etc. Anyway, here is a pic from Kent looking east

Duke of Kent pt4763 (and court) from Mt Kent

Gabriel has some pretty good shots looking west at the court from a Mt Gardner ski trip we did last winter here

[umbrella lady]

I have to thank you for putting in steps in the snow, I had never been to Kent before and wanted to so followed your downhill steps up and back, worked out well and were needed today because it was snowing and no visibility. Only difference I did was park in the regular lot, can anyone drive up to the higher parking place? Thanks again for all your steps and photos, because it didn't look as nice and the sunshine was missing.

[ErinB]

We were so fortunate with the beautiful weather! Quite a fun day, with just enough of the adventure needed for a satisfactory day in the mountains…here are a few more photos:

The neverending traverse

Another shot of Kos and Eric

The other part of Alice Lakes basin, from the ridge

And thanks to Dicey for holding Kos for me!

[Matt]

Kos & Eric appear to have matching facial hair. Dicey, nice cottonball clouds picture.

[Layback]

[puzzlr]

Nice to hear you tied up that loose end. Speaking of the watershed boundary, last summer I biked to the back of Mt Gardner starting from a gate on the road by Humpback peak, ignoring the signs to keep out. I hiked up the final bit for a quick summit (that's really cheating!). When I got home I wondered what the penalty is for being in the watershed and how one would get caught. I searched the internet for 30 minutes but couldn't find any information or stories about that. Has anyone been caught in the watershed? Fined?

[dicey]

[EastKing]

Wow, great trip report and pictures. Looks like a fun day!