Mount Margaret by Ugly Duckling sits on the north end of Keechelus Ridge. Dungeon Peak on Rampart Ridge is near the north, overlooking Lake Lillian. Meanwhile, Gold Creek by Keechus Lake offers the shortest approach.
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Mount Margaret at a Glance
Access: Gold Creek Sno-Park (NF-4832)
Round Trip: 8 miles
Elevation Range: 2480′-5560′
Gear: microspikes, snowshoes
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: with guidance
Walking the Snowy Road 4832
It was our second time here after the initial attempt two years ago. Knowing we wouldn’t see many people here, I hoped to find solitude and sunshine. But what I hadn’t expected to find was the bazillion snowmobiles en route.
Soon, we walked past the fork with Road 136. And that’s when I decided to go cross-country to avoid most snow activities in the area. Shortly, we began making tracks through the west slopes south of Wolfe Creek.
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Traversing Mount Margaret South Ridge
Occasionally, a snowmobile or two would show up as we crossed the roadways in several places. Eventually, we reached Point 5165’s north saddle and continued to Mount Margaret’s south ridgeline.
I was glad the snow was stable enough to plow through more efficiently. I would sometimes turn to savor the south landscape. But the forested east side didn’t offer many views until we reached the top later.
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Viewing Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Mount Margaret was an excellent vantage spot to view the east and south. However, trees blocked most vistas in the north and west. Mount Adams in the far south would likely show its face on a crisp, clear day.
On the way out, we followed the snowshoe tracks we saw coming from Wolfe Creek. Many people had also used the beaten path to the mountain in recent weeks. Soon, from south of Rocky Run, we reached Road 4832 to finish the rest of the trip.
But more importantly, I was glad to have missed all the snowmobiles in the meadow.
See more trip photos here.