Mount Fernow in Wild Sky Wilderness is located west of Stevens Pass near the renowned Beckler Peak. Although not as well-known as its famous namesake, both peaks were named after Bernhard Fernow, a key figure in American forestry. As one of the tallest peaks in the wilderness, it offers stunning views of the North Cascades. Meanwhile, the nearest higher neighbor, K9, sits over seven miles away above the headwaters of Icicle Creek.
See more trip photos here.
For Mount Fernow in the Entiat Mountains, check out this post.
Mount Fernow in Wild Sky Wilderness at a Glance
Environs = Alpine Baldy + Patches Peak
周圍地區=高山鮑爾迪+補丁峯
Access: Jennifer Dunn Trailhead
Round Trip: 9.7 miles
Elevation Range: 2780′-6189′
Essential Gear: microspikes
Route Info: Greg Henriksen
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: with guidance
Playlist: Beats
Rough Roads to the Trailhead
The seven-mile drive to the trailhead from Highway 2 was on a typically bumpy forest road. Potholes over the roadway comprised the lower portion leading to the junction at mile two. From there, bumps transitioned to ruts, which required careful straddling through the narrower sections. The final stretch past the rutted switchback returned to potholes before reaching the trailhead in 2.5 miles.
Mosquitoes were still blissfully dormant in the cool morning air of the empty lot. Before starting our day, I spotted the distinct Malachite Peak and the top of Tonga Ridge from the Jennifer Dunn trailhead sign. The nearby Alpine Baldy Trail looked new, not sure if it was around during our first visit 13 years earlier. The map showed it’s a much longer winding path toward the ridgetop.
A Morning Climb to Alpine Baldy
The trail crossed several streams, with small openings in the forest offering serene views to the south. We maintained a steady incline past the sturdy footbridge over a small creek. Shortly after, we reached a higher viewpoint overlooking the massive Tonga Ridge. Luckily, we only needed to step over three downed trees before leaving the main path after two miles.
There was no water after we left the trail near the pass until Jakes Lake. Mosquitoes eventually surfaced as the morning slowly warmed up. Surprisingly, a faint path marked with flagging appeared, leading us to the Alpine Baldy Trail’s terminus at 4800 feet. As Connor and I meandered through the scenic meadow slope, the first glimpse of Mount Fernow appeared behind the timbered ridgeline.
Approach to Mount Fernow in Wild Sky Wilderness
We overshot the west ridge while savoring the stunning, open landscape. But a brief scramble from the south soon put us on the forested summit after encoutering the first snow patches. Alpine Baldy only offered a limited view into the Harlan Creek Basin, so we didn’t stay long. From there, we descended the north ridge and got a better glimpse of Mount Fernow by the outcrops.
After realizing there wasn’t much snow on the mountain, I stashed the snowshoes and descended east of the cliffs. Stepping through steep terrain while avoiding dense vegetation, we eventually crossed below Patches Peak. Soon, we stumbled on an old fisherman’s trail, which later faded by Jakes Lake under a thin layer of ice. The climbing route was now more obvious, but I still couldn’t locate the summit.
Final Scramble Through the South Gully
Even if the weather were cooler, ascending through the talus would have been laborious due to thinning snow. To avoid the heat, we hugged the edge of the forest on softer terrain west of the lake. We left the trees at the base of a buttress and headed toward the main gully. I was soon delighted to discover water trickling from the snowmelt, as I had forgotten to retrieve some from the lake earlier.
From below, the tall tower that looked like the summit was merely an optical illusion. Where the gully split into two passages near a small buttress, we took the left one over a tall step. However, we descended via the other option, since it seemed more manageable. From the ridge, a short climb east brought us to the large summit boulders of Mount Fernow in Wild Sky Wilderness, overlooking the vast landscape.
Final Stop and an Unexpected Encounter
The sweeping landscape highlighted Glacier Peak, plus the rest of the Wild Sky high points. Before leaving, we visited Jakes Lake and took a side trip to Patches Peak for more views following the faint trail. Instead of traversing back through the east basin, a ridge run back to Alpine Baldy seemed more appealing. However, we needed to bypass the previously encountered outcrops from the west before rejoining our morning tracks.
After retrieving the snowshoes, we descended the west ridge and enjoyed the expansive south views again. As we crossed the open meadow, I noticed a brown bear in the distance, quickly followed by a black bear below the path. Again, with loud chants and noises from the poles, they both soon disappeared into the woods. Meanwhile, feeling agitated, Connor tried freeing himself from the leash to go after the animals. Yikes!
After reaching the lower main trail, we enjoyed a bear-free, peaceful hike back to an empty parking lot. It was a spectacular day on Mount Fernow in Wild Sky Wilderness.
