Git Out Ridge + Blue Mountain by Baby Blue via Olney Pass / 藍山

  • Reading time:7 mins read

Git Out Ridge and Blue Mountain rise west of Spada Lake atop Sultan River. Bald Mountain sits directly north to the east of Mount Pilchuck. Moreover, a short drive beyond Baby Blue lets one access both places via Olney Pass.

This way to Git Out Ridge
This way to Git Out Ridge

See more trip photos here.

Check out this post for Blue Mountain in Whatcom County by Lyman Hill.

Git Out Ridge and Blue Mountain at a Glance

Access: Sultan Basin Road @ Olney Pass
Round Trip: 6.6 miles (Git Out) and 9.6 miles (Blue)
Elevation Range: 1500′-3080′
Essential Gear: none
Route Info: Scott Rice
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: yes
Playlist: Spooky

Return to Sultan Basin

The three of us were in the area in late winter, visiting the nearby Baby Blue. Then, today, Connor and I returned to explore the two ridges directly north of it. We’d spend most of our trip going through desolate logging roads amid stunning landscapes.

In the past, I’d seen Spada Lake from Vesper Peak, Hall Peak, and Marble Peak. So, it was a long overdue visit since I first spotted the big pond from the mountaintop in 2010. Our midweek visit was surprisingly quiet as we only saw one person during the trip.

Sultan River Valley from Blue Mountain
Sultan River Valley from Blue Mountain

See more trip photos here.

Blue Mountain and the Old Lookout Site From Olney Pass

The main road past the locked gate went straight up to the top. The summit sat just east of the radio towers among some debris but easy to reach. The unexpected sight of two high points by Mountain Loop Highway (MLH) at the start was a pleasant surprise.

We briefly paused before continuing west to the old lookout, which now sat among brambles. Due to logging, we could now see Sultan Basin, Git Out Ridge, and even Three Fingers! Soon after finding the former site, we returned to the gate under a dramatic, cloudy sky.

Spade Lake panorama from Culmback Dam
Spade Lake panorama from Culmback Dam

See more trip photos here.

Git Out Ridge and Basin Lookout Site From Spada Lake

We were by Spada Lake within minutes of the pass and quickly crossed the dam. Soon, we left the roadway at the sharp bend into the trees to the upper logging road at 2050′. Then we walked through the clearing to the woodsy high point a short way above the road.

On the return, we stopped by another former lookout half a mile down the road. It viewed the lake and the dramatic peaks behind the water. It’s wild to think we were now closer to MLH on this ridge! Soon, we walked the last 2.5 miles back to the dam and out.

East panorama from Git Out Ridge
East panorama from Git Out Ridge

See more trip photos here.

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