Crosby Mountain by Bing Peak and Palmer Mountain ranks #4 in the Index-Tolt area after Mount Phelps. Despite the taller Mount Rudderham to the west, views atop this peak are fantastic. Moreover, the rare sight of Cement Lake and Boner Lake en route makes for an even more enjoyable climb.
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Crosby Mountain at a Glance
Access: Money Creek Road (NF-6420)
Round Trip: 10 miles
Elevation Range: 1240′-5520′
Gear: helmet, microspikes
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: no
The Preface on Crosby Mountain
The pup and I attempted Crosby Mountain last October, right after the first snowfall. But we turned back when the fresh powder made it hard to continue. I also didn’t think we’d make it to the top and back before dark.
Instead, we resorted to the nearby Bing Peak on the way down. Despite the rugged terrain, the short climb gave us more time to dillydally. It was also great to be close to home after a three-day trip.
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Money Creek Road to the Starting Point
The snow came much later this year than the last time we were here. So I knew we’d have a great chance at making the long ridge traverse. The goal was to reach the top at a decent hour and down the mountain before dark.
I parked at the same spot off Money Creek Road, 3.5 miles from Highway 2. Then we used the same route and the game trails. Later, we made our way up the steep south slopes. At the same time, we also stayed to the right of a small stream.
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Crosby Mountain East Ridge
At 3200′, we crossed an open talus gully and saw Lennox Mountain across the valley. Then we climbed the south-southeast rib to the 4160′ saddle west of Bing Peak for the next 1000′. I put on microspikes for traction on the duff.
I remembered the first part of this ridge last year, so we quickly moved through meadows to Point 4494. Halfway through, we dropped into the gorge, which we couldn’t avoid. Then we bypassed the outcrops via the south before returning to the ridge.
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En Route to Cement Lake and Boner Lake
Soon, we found a defined path on the other side of the outcrops. We followed it through the forest before taking a nosedive by the cliffs at 4200′. After two steep switchbacks, we dropped into a grass field with several ponds.
We bypassed the pools from the south through dense brush to reach Cement Lake at 4080′. From the west shore, we began the tedious 800′ climb through a large talus field. Then we zigzagged up through cliffs, gullies, and gorges.
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Southeast Saddle
Despite the smooth contour lines on the map, the terrain was anything but even. We made many stops to figure out ways around minor cruxes. But the closer we were to Boner Lake, the more granite rocks. Then we saw the serene lake in a basin full of beautiful granite slabs.
Soon, we walked to the lake’s west end from the north shore. We followed a broad granite gully to the south ridge between two knobs. Then from the west of the crest, we moved to the southeast saddle between the summit and Point 5290.
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The Final Stretch
Later, we crossed the ridge crest to 5400′ before the steep south face. Then at the base of the summit block, I located a ramp among cliffs and dense shrubs. So we went around to the west side for more route-finding fun.
A hidden heather gully on the west put us one step closer. But it ended just below the summit rocks. So I searched for gaps between the dense shrubs and the cliffs. Then I found some big rocks and propped ourselves up to finish the final bit.
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Crosby Mountain Summit View Plus Exit
The top was perfect for seeing into Alpine Lakes Wilderness and Wild Sky Wilderness. From here, it felt taller than the neighbors we had climbed. Palmer Mountain, Cleveland Mountain, Philadelphia Mountain, and Melted Mountain were nearby.
We enjoyed an hour of the warm and windless visit before returning to the lakes. After returning to the west saddle of Bing Peak, we soon dropped the hard-earned 2500′ on the south. Then we crossed the talus gully and reached the car right after dark.
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