After yesterday’s trip to McLeod Mountain, pup and I slept by the Washington Pass hairpin turn. So we could go up to Wallaby Peak and make the long drive worthwhile.
See more trip photos here.
Wallaby Peak at a Glance
Access: Washington Pass hairpin turn
Round Trip: 4.4 miles
Elevation Range: 5160′-7995′
Gear: helmet, ice ax, microspikes
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: no
Going up to Pass 6671
In the morning, we awoke to the sound of cars. Groups of climbers were getting ready to climb Kangaroo Temple. Two skiers showed up a while later. Then they went up to the couloir south of the Early Winters Spires.
Afterward, we moved southeast on firm snow in the Early Winters Creek Basin. The terrain steepened with some ice at 6200′. Then I realized I had forgotten my crampons back in the car. But glad I found the microspikes in the side pocket of my pack. So I used them to go through this section.
See more trip photos here.
Southwest Ridge Route
We climbed another 200′ on moderate terrain in the upper basin. Then the slopes steepened in the final 300′ up to Pass 6671. From the pass, I saw our last year’s climb: Marsupial Peak. It sat among many other high points in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness.
Thanks to recent tracks, we were able to move faster up to the southeast ridge. Then we followed the ridgeline until snow ended at 7200′. Through the access notch, we then left the crest and went onto the south face. Afterward, we followed the old tracks up the steep terrain to another access point. It was right below the crux of the climb.
See more trip photos here.
Steep South Face Finish
I wished I had brought my crampons. They would have come in very handy through the snow arête. It was hard not to look down at the deep gully. So I went through this section with the ice ax and microspikes very carefully. On the other hand, the pup flew through this part effortlessly. Then he waited for me at the top of the ramp.
The terrain steepened past the snow. So I was ready to switch to climbing on scree. There were lots of loose rocks in the gully. Glad I brought my helmet since the pup had kicked down rocks a few times. Just below the top, we went through a small section of snow. Then another 50′ of scrambling on scree put us up on the summit.
See more trip photos here.
Wallaby Peak Summit
I had been waiting for the view on top since we left the car. And it sure was gorgeous! To the north, I could see as far as the top of Mount Baker and the Picket Range. There were also views of Big Kangaroo, Silver Star Mountain, and Gilbert Mountain next door. The two summit register entries from yesterday looked to be the season’s first ascents.
Back at the crux, I faced in to gain better traction with the spikes. It seemed to take forever to go through. But once we passed this part, it didn’t take long to get back down to the pass. Glad that the afternoon snow wasn’t slushy. So snowshoes continued to stay on my pack for the rest of the trip.
See more trip photos here.
Outro
We got back in the early afternoon. Then there were a ton more cars by the hairpin turn. I talked to two skiers who had just finished the Blue Lake Basin ski tour. That basin was the happening place today.
Do you have a GPS track available? I’d like to take a closer look at the route.