[jared_j]

I'm looking for a winter / spring outing in this neck of the woods that is sufficiently mellow enough to be done unroped, and in a long day from the road for a fit party. Probably on slowshoes (not skis). I know about hard climbing routes up there (Watusi Rodeo, It Aint Over Yet MFers), but other stuff not so much. Suggestions? Looks like Ruby Mountain across the way is mellow and may fit the bill. Thanks in advance for not turning this into a thread about avalanche hazards / risks, as there's already a rich discussion of that going on elsehwere.

[Mike Collins]

[Brushbuffalo]

Here is another TR for a daytrip of Ruby from the steeper north side. http://www.stephabegg.com/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/ruby

[Secret Agent Man]

Sourdough Mt or as far as you want to go along the Stetattle Ridge are nice strenuous snowshoe trips. Not technical at all except for one short and steep section where you need to watch your step, but it's a fun one. It's exposed to weather up on that ridge though, I wouldn't want to be caught up there in a storm.

[Matt]

Stetattle Ridge is a premier winter outing. Start out on the Sourdough Ridge trail from Diablo, but where the trail turns circa 4000 feet to traverse over toward the Sourdough Lookout, just continue straight up the ridge. (Don't do the Sourdough traverse, because it crosses a serious avalanche slope.) You can get 5000 or even 6000 feet of gain depending how far you go, and views of the Pickets and North Cascades are superb. Just search for "Stetattle Ridge" on this site and you'll find a couple dozen reports.

[cartman]

The route to Colonial Basin below the Stump and Pyramid is done without a rope, but there is serious avalanche hazard once exiting the trees. The glacier is mellow; Colonial Basin is mostly filled with a glacial lake, so I would be comfortable scrambling Pyramid and the Stump without the technical gear earlier in season, but I'd do it as an overnight. Stetattle Ridge is spectacular. When the summer trail turns east across the slope, simply continue north on the slopes and rib aiming for the ridge just west of Sourdough's summit. Then follow the ridge as far as you like. We snowshoed to the first high point on the ridge on a day trip in February several years ago, which with the ups and downs ended up being 7000' of gain. Ruby is a good spring day trip with excellent views from the top.

[jared_j]

Thanks all for the perspectives! I have been on Stetattle in winter and agree it’s something special. I may end up repeating that when the time is right but am always curious about new spots.

[iron]

little jack https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8010179 sourpatch (need stable snow for the final ridge descent) https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=791164