Mount Kent by McClellan Butte perches above Alice Creek. It’s also the #10 tallest peak in Cedar River-South Snoqualmie Pass. Meanwhile, its lesser-known neighbors in the basin include the Duke of Kent and the Duchess of Kent.
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Mount Kent at a Glance
Access: NF-9020 end of the drivable road
Round Trip: TBD
Elevation Range: 2200′-5087′
Gear: helmet
GPS Track: not available
Dog-Friendly: on the road
The Preface
We nearly made another trip out to Eastern Washington because of the snowy forecast in the Cascades. I wanted to give it another we or so before we venture into the mountains. So we could enjoy a decent day without the snow.
Our first time here was April two years ago. It was at the beginning of spring with more snow than we had now. But we lucked out today because it never snowed or rained during the entire trip.
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Road Walk to Mount Kent
The two miles of walking up to the basin was still tedious as there’s not much to see. But the roadway seemed to have worsened due to neglect and deterioration. It wouldn’t be drivable past the bridge at the first bend even without the roadblock.
The snow made going over the otherwise rocky roadway much smoother this time. It was also more enjoyable because we didn’t need to deal with the brush over the path. Best of all, we could move quickly without the annoying slide alder.
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The Final Stretch on Mount Kent
We stayed in the trees right of the talus as I was not too fond of the rock field. The goal was to reach the upper basin west of the tributary past the lower portion. Afterward, a bit of work through the rocks got us near the top.
With more snow on the steep southeast face would be much quicker to go straight up to the top. But that’s only if in low avalanche danger, of course. Then a short traverse on the southwest ridge put us at the top.
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Mount Kent Summit Views
North view to Interstate 90 (I-90) was ok, as clouds had capped nearly every high point in that direction. But the valley floor would clear up a few times for me to snap some photos.
Tall trees to the north and the west would still block the views even on a clear day. It would also require some work to see McClellan Butte over that way. But only if one doesn’t fall off the cliffs through the trees!
See more trip photos here.
Outro
We had a pretty late start because of the last-minute plan. Soon, the sky darkened as we went into the basin. Then was a pain going back through the slide alder and talus. But I guess that’s why we use headlamps!