Mile High by Cascade Mountain shares a ridgeline with Toto Peak above Lake Dorothy. As the name implies, it stands a mile tall at 5280 feet. The nearby Bear Lake, Deer Lake, and Snoqualmie Lake are backpackers’ favorites.
See more trip photos here.
Mile High at a Glance
Access: Miller River Bridge Washout
Round Trip: 17.1 miles
Elevation Range: 1480′-5280′
Gear: helmet
Route Info: puzzlr
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: no on the summit block
The Preface on Mile High and Toto Peak
Back then, climbing Mile High involved a 9-mile drive on Miller River Road to the end. Then, 1.5 miles of hiking Lake Dorothy Trail would take one to the starting point by the outlet. It was the shortest way to the peak.
Soon came the 2021 road closure at mile 5 by the bridge. It has since significantly reduced the number of lakegoers. So now, accessing Lake Dorothy and beyond from Highway 2, the extra 4 miles each way is inevitable.
See more trip photos here.
Other Ways to Mile High
Going in from the west, north, and south lets one bypass Toto Peak. The obscure peak on the wooded ridgeline is a letdown in views and not much to write about. But when snow-free, one needs to contend with the brush.
Dream Lake: one needs to go through the brush before and after the lake. Smith Creek: it avoids the ridge but deals with more cliffs lower down. Then Snoqualmie Lake is 8-plus miles each way and brushy beyond the lake.
See more trip photos here.
Lake Dorothy Trail
The pups and I tried climbing Mile High last November after the snowfall. But the rocky ridge below Toto Peak had presented an issue. So I decided to return during the dry months, and we hung out by the lake instead.
The decent trail only had a handful of down trees to bypass. Even on a clear day, views in the open forest would still be minimal. We gained the most altitude over the stairs after crossing the Camp Robber Creek bridge.
See more trip photos here.
Mile High East Route
We spent most of the time going from the outlet to Toto Peak’s northeast crest. The steepest section was from 3600′ to 4200′ as we hugged the impressive slab wall above the lake’s north shore. But route-finding wasn’t an issue this time.
At the 4600′ talus, we dropped onto the north side to avoid the rocky ridge. The last time we were here, we made the mistake of staying on the crest. But this time, reaching the top of Toto Peak was smooth sailing.
See more trip photos here.
Traversing Above Lake Pugsley
Several boulders among the krummholz made up Toto Peak’s summit. It reminded me of Saint Agnes Ridge but much more woodsier to offer grand views. So we continued after a brief pause and a quick photo.
Beyond the peak, the terrain widened as we strolled through the meadow. But on the summit ridge’s west end, it quickly dipped to the bouldered crest for the next 200′. We bypassed the rocks from the slick heather and duff on the north.
See more trip photos here.
Pugsley Pass and Beyond
I thought I’d see Lake Pugsley along the way, but trees and clouds were all. After going through more brush, we reached the unimpressive Pugsley Pass. “Would people make their way up here just to hang out?” I wondered.
Beyond the pass was another field with a few water puddles. The only other water we found was along the meadow past Toto Peak. Otherwise, the dogs enjoyed the leftover snow after we finished the water from my pouch.
See more trip photos here.
Mile High Northwest Ridge
Next came the massive talus in the north basin to cross. Without snow, we used the smaller rocks to weave through the giant boulders, staying between 4600′ and 4800′. Before long, we were by the northwest ridge below the summit.
I poked around several places, but none was suitable for the pups. So we went farther north and found a ramp south of Point 4867. Soon, we were on the wooded crest and made our way into the upper talus meadow.
See more trip photos here.
The Final Stretch
We could stay on the crest until 5160′ when we found vertical slabs mixed with krummholz. But I knew it wasn’t feasible for the dogs, and I wouldn’t try taking them through it. So we backtracked into the talus basin at 5000′.
After situating the dogs below the cliffs, I climbed up the vertical slabs with the help of krummholz. Above the crux was the slick duff over moderate terrain. Soon, I was at the top as clouds fast moved in from the west.
See more trip photos here.
Mile High Summit Views
Perhaps it was the long day trip, but I didn’t find it all that enjoyable. The highlights were seeing Lake Dorothy and lots of Cascade Mountain en route. In the end, clouds had robbed us of most views. Talk about great timing!
The constant view of Cascade Mountain earlier was no more. The east was the only side with semi-decent views. I saw Malachite Peak, Chimney Rock, and Big Snow Mountain before clouds moved in and devoured everything.
See more trip photos here.
Outro
After joining the pups, we retraced our steps to the north basin. Then we went back up to Toto Peak and down the other side. It felt more physically taxing to go back through the steep section while avoiding the tree debris.
We desperately needed the long water break and rehydrated back at Lake Dorothy. But I dreaded the 5.5 miles back to the washout. Of course, the only car in the big lot was just inches away from mine. Ugh, as if!
See more trip photos here.