Island Mountain by Three Queens stands alone in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, west of Cooper River. Nearly encircled by water on all sides, the peak is a prominent feature located south of Pete Lake. Moreover, its modest height and unique location offer an intimate view of the rugged, classic high points in the Central Cascades.
See more trip photos here.
Island Mountain at a Glance
Access: Pete Lake Trailhead
Round Trip: 8.4 miles
Elevation Range: 2360′-4496
Essential Gear: microspikes
Route Info: Adam Walker
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: with guidance
Playlist: Urban
Trail to Cooper River Crossing
Having hiked it just two years before, the Pete Lake Trail felt familiar and was still decent. Several downed trees blocking the path were manageable with a quick step over or a brief detour. We crossed Tired Creek on an upstream spur trail that led to a decent-sized trunk, slightly hidden behind slide alder. The bypass at the following stream was a convenient log over the water. Soon, we avoided the next creek, using debris downstream.
Curious about river conditions and the potential log jam, we followed Adam’s route and left the trail at about 2.5 miles in. A short scramble soon brought us to the shore, where I immediately spotted the debris upstream. I was relieved to find it; otherwise, we would have to go through Pete Lake. Midway across, I carefully scooched along a thin tree with enough clearance above the water while Connor waded.
Gaining the Southeast Ridge
Once across Cooper River, we quickly gained the southest ridge of Island Mountain, past a brief area of thin brush. When we went out into the open and the sun, the day quickly grew warmer. As expected, no water sources were available along the ridge once the snow had melted. Amidst the pleasant sounds of birds chirping, the resounding sounds of Delate Creek in the canyon below accompanied us throughout.
Surprisingly, traversing the slab-covered ridgeline turned out smooth, as we mainly hugged the crest. The initial glimpse of the snowy ridgeline was near the cliffs at 3200 feet. From there, we moved to the adjacent rib and climbed another 200 feet around the north of a steep buttress. Overall, the route seemed more straightforward than anticipated, with ramps and ledges providing a clear path forward.
Stunning Views From Island Mountain
The terrain eased considerably beyond 4200 feet to the east high point. As soon as we returned to the trees near the saddle, we found nice patches of snow where Connor could cool off. Then, it was a quick stroll to the top, where the forest thinned out significantly. The first thing we noticed was a delightful small pool that nestled beside the broad summit. Meanwhile, panoramic views from Island Mountain were truly breathtaking.
This spot offered a good view of most of Stone Kingdom‘s peaks. Mount Daniel, The Cradle, and Bears Breast were also visible behind Waptus Pass. Despite the slightly awkward angle of Polallie Ridge, the landscape was still breathtaking. The only sounds were the hawks overhead and the rushing water from the creeks below. Numerous crisscrossing trees on the slope before Chikamin Peak were a grim reminder of the 2009 Lemah Fire.
A Hasty and Sketchy Descent
Connor seemed less enthusiastic about exploring as we left the top of Island Mountain, and we took numerous heat breaks for him. From afar, I spotted a potential log jam crossing farther downstream. Oh, well. As we retraced our steps, we somehow missed the better route we had taken earlier and downclimbed steeper rocks than necessary. But where was my helmet when I needed it?
The dog didn’t seem to mind the sketchy terrain and was eager to get out of the heat. To my surprise, crossing Cooper River back to the other side was a breeze, as the water level had dropped slightly. The submerged tree from earlier was now half above the water, making the final crossing much easier. After a brief scramble onto the main trail, we enjoyed a quiet stroll through the rest 2.5 miles back to the car.
