Overview
Beckler Peak is a mountain located in the southeastern region of Wild Sky Wilderness of Washington. The peak has both local historical importance and is the site of some peakbagging controversy. Although basically considered as a non-technical ascent, Beckler Peak also has terrain for technical mountaineers and rock climbers to enjoy.
Mount Fernow (6190' elevation) as seen from Beckler Peak
Beckler Peak was named in honor of Elberdge H. Beckler, a railroad engineer who worked for the Great Northern Railway during the late 1800s. Beckler also helped extend the Milwaukee Railroad into the area. Beckler River, located west of the mountain, was also named in honor of Elberdge H. Beckler, in 1892. The mountain then became the site of a fire lookout during 1924, a 25' tall pole tower with a 6' x 6' log cabin, before the lookout was retired when it was detroyed in 1958. The fire lookout did not sit on any of Beckler Peak's several highpoints, but actually was stationed at 4950' elevation just below the west summit so it would have an optimal location to oversee the town of Skykomish and the Beckler River/Skykomish River confluence.
Ascending Southeast Slope...
Beckler Peak is also the source of some local peakbagging controversy. The peak has at least four different highpoints, and three of them (nicknamed West Peak, Middle Peak, and East Peak) are nearly equal in elevation. The East Peak has one 5062' contour and the other three contenders (including the Middle Peak's definitely-shorter sub-peak) each have 40-foot contours for elevations between 5040'-5080'. That suggests there are possible vertical differences of less than 22' elevation between each of those possible "highest" points, which is relatively minor, and surprising for a peak with such low overall elevation.
West Peak, Middle Peak, and snowy Middle Peak sub-peak
Some official maps show the highest point as the East Peak, which is non-technical to attain. However, some mountaineers claim the West Peak, also non-technical, is the tallest point on the mountain while some other climbers claim the Middle Peak, which is technical to attain, is the tallest point. Technical climbers placed a summit register on the Middle Peak years ago, as part of an effort to try to establish the Middle Peak as the "true" highest point, but the controversy continues. The reality is that each highpoint is so close in elevation that any might be the true highest point; it is a matter of perception and opinion, and there is no definitive answer.
Looking at the West Peak and its southern slopes...
On September 17, 2011, Eric Willhite contributed to this page a 10-Foot Contour topography (LIDAR) map for Beckler Peak. That map shows the West Peak as being lower than the Middle and East Peaks, although the Middle and East Peaks are each have the same elevation within a 10-Foot Contour. The only way the West Peak is the highest point is if all three points have the exact elevation. Using that map as a reference, the West Peak can be ruled-out (at least for most people's opinions) as the highest point, leaving the Middle and East Peaks as the true logical contenders. But their respective elevations are so similar that either might be truly higher than the other, or perhaps they are the same elevation. Perhaps in time some official/definitive methods will be used to prove which is truly higher, if either peak is.
10-Foot Contour Map (Provided By Eric Willhite)
Beckler Peak, as seen from Alpine Baldy
Getting There
The standard routes for this summit, including driving directions, hiking directions, and parking areas, have changed multiple times during the years following the creation of Wild Sky Wilderness. The following directions have been updated, but if any other changes/revisions occur please notify the page administrator.From Skykomish, WA:
1) Drive east along Highway 2 for 3.1 miles.
2) Turn left onto FS-6066.
3) After 1.8 miles, the road splits. Take the right fork (uphill) to continue on Forest Road 6066.
4) Follow to the end of the road (6.7 miles total from Highway 2). This is the "Jennifer Dunn Trailhead" (~2700' elevation) for the Beckler Peak Trail.
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HIKING DIRECTIONS:
1) Begin hiking along the decommissioned sections of FS-6066, heading east.
2) Follow the overgrown logging road for 1.6 miles to a trail junction (~3600' elevation).
3) Turn onto the trail, and follow it for 2.1 miles to the East Peak summit. From the overgrown road, the trail angles uphill towards the saddle connecting Beckler Peak and Alpine Baldy, then follows the ridgetop westward to the summit.
4) For the Middle Peak, continue heading west on the upper south-facing slopes from the East Peak. Several rocky outcrops stand near the Middle Peak location, but the tallest one is a technical ascent and the use of rock climbing equipment (rope, harness, etc.) is strongly desired.
5) For the West Peak, head west and down-slope several hundred feet in elevation on the south-facing slopes below the Middle Peak, then after passing the Middle Peak rocky area begin ascending upslope to the forested West Peak, which is non-technical.
Hiking to the East Peak summit is approximately 7.4 miles roundtrip. Hiking time is typically between 4-6 hours roundtrip.
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PRIOR TO AN OFFICIAL TRAIL BEING IMPLEMENTED, HERE WAS THE FORMER ROUTE:
1) Begin hiking along the decommissioned sections of FS-6066, heading east.
2) Within 0.5 miles, at the first road fork intersection, the apparent main road sharply switchbacks left (northwest) while overgrown FS-6066 continues straight ahead. Take the left branch road that heads northwest. The road quickly becomes overgrown as it ascends northwest until reaching a stream/washout at approximately 3350' elevation.
3) Cross the stream, heading west and leaving the old road. Then steeply ascend northwest up thick forested slopes until reaching the eastern ridgetop of Beckler Peak at approximately 4400' elevation.
4) Once on/near the ridgetop, begin heading west to the East Peak (5062' elevation), which requires a steep final ascent but is non-technical.
Hiking the former route to the East Peak summit was approximately 5.0 miles roundtrip. This route is no longer recommended due to the implementation of an official trail, but is still described here for historical purposes.
Hiking time was typically between 4-6 hours roundtrip.
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There are other approaches for Beckler Peak, as well, such as via its southwest slopes or via an approach from its neighbor-peak Alpine Baldy. The southwest slopes are commonly used for summiting the West Peak and occasionally also the Middle Peak.
Red Tape
As of 2011, an official trail has been constructed for Beckler Peak. The trailhead is named "Jennifer Dunn Trailhead". Despite being an official trail, according to the U.S. Forest Service the use of a Northwest Forest Pass (parking permit) is not yet required (but recommended).Camping
Backcountry camping is allowed on Beckler Peak and within Wild Sky Wilderness.Please contact a local ranger station, such as Skykomish Ranger Station, for further details.
