Anaconda Peak of Gordon Ridge by Long Mountain perches above Mountain Loop Highway. Kelcema Lake lies two basins to the northeast. Of the various routes, Marten Creek Trail may be a better way to reach the peak.
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Anaconda Peak at a Glance
Access: NF-4037
Round Trip: 8.5 miles
Elevation Range: 1280′-5050′
Gear: snowshoes
Route Info: SummitPost.org
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: with guidance
Road 4037 to 4039
I first saw Anaconda Peak from Mount Pugh and decided to try it after seeing a report. But in hindsight, we could’ve waited two more months for better snow. Road 4037 by the Red Bridge had fresh powder mixed with slush due to the recent warm weather.
The one foot of snow at the start was already terrible before turning onto Road 4038. I soon put on snowshoes at the first switchback, and we carefully bypassed several washouts via the gullies. The massive brush over the road showed that it hadn’t seen many visitors.
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Anaconda Peak South Route to Gordon Ridge
After the second gully, we left the road at mile 2.5 before the subsequent washout. Then we climbed 1700′ on the steep south slopes, aiming for Gordon Ridge. The snow was worse despite being in the shade of a dense forest. We bypassed most down trees in the lower 500′ through deep powder.
We reached the west ridge above 4000′ and briefly traversed it. Then we tackled the final 800′ via the south crest. The steeper terrain adorned with krummholz was the icing on the cake. We repeatedly walked a few feet in firm snow before plunging back into deep powder.
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Viewing Mountain Loop Highway from Anaconda Peak
All the while, the pups followed closely behind as we trudged through mostly thigh-high snow. We were exhausted after reaching the top an hour before sunset with a mid-morning start. But we had enough time to settle in as I quickly took photos.
I wish we had more time to savor the peak-filled landscape atop the inversion. The neighboring Long Mountain and Marble Peak were calling our names. There were also spectacular views of Glacier Peak and Mount Pugh in the far east. They once again reminded me of how small we all were.
Despite the short visit, we caught the golden lighting amid the vibrant evening colors. In the meantime, I was glad to have enjoyed the stunning vistas after the huffing and puffing.
See more trip photos here.