Contribute  Loading...
Children Loading... Geography Parents Loading... Routes
| Cascadian Couloir   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: Washington, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 47.46483°N / 120.90119°W GPX File: Download GPX » View Route on Map Route Type: Hiking, Mountaineering, Scrambling Season: Spring, Summer, Fall Time Required: One to two days Rock Difficulty: Class 3 Difficulty: Walk Up
| Route Quality: | | | | Loading...
| Page By: Josh Lewis Created/Edited: May 21, 2002 / Oct 12, 2011 Object ID: 156462 Hits: 15153 Loading... Page Score: 67.1% - 12 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Overview This page is still under construction.
This is to be considered by many to be the standard route up Mount Stuart, it is non technical allowing many scramblers and climbers to have easy access up this peak. Many climbers also use this route for the descent instead of going back down the other various technical routes on Mount Stuart. The climb offers great views of the Teanaway, Enchantments, and some of the other peaks in the Leavenworth area of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The route has a few class 3 spots, but has low exposure as long as you stay on route. Throughout most of the year an ice axe is recommended as well as crampons, usually most of the snow is melted out through out July, but sometimes the snow has a way of lingering on snowy years.
Sunset on Mount Stuart |
Getting ThereFor easy directions click here.
From Seattle:
Drive East on I-90 for about 80 miles, turn off at exit 85 and cross over the drive of I-90. From here take a right onto Highway 970, (it may also be called highway 10) which goes east for 6.5 miles until you reach a road on your left called "Teanaway Road", be sure to take this road. As your traveling along you may see views of the Enchantments as well as Mount Stuart, I consider this to be a beautiful drive. After 7.3 miles be sure to stay on the North Fork Teanaway Road (the road changes automatically when passing by the West Fork Teanaway). In 5.8 miles you reach another fork in the road, take a right onto forest road 9737. Stay on this road until you get to the Esmerelda Basin Trailhead.Route DescriptionStart out hiking along the Esmerelda trail which follows along an old jeep road for about .5 miles of mostly flat well maintained trail. Very soon you reach a fork in the trail, take a right here which it's labeled as Ingalls Way. The trail gently switch backs up the side of Fortune Peak.
At the intersection with the Long's Pass Trail and Ingalls Pass Trail, be sure to take a right which goes up to Longs Pass. Longs Pass is estimated to be at an elevation of 6,300 feet high with a decent view of Mount Stuart and the rest of the Stuart Range. Now you head over the other side of the pass heading Northeast, be careful scrambling down the loose rock to get down to the trail. At first the trail goes down in zipper-like fashion towards the basin. The trail then goes into swampy like terrain with mud and a few small creeks running through it in places. This then descends down into a basin at en elevation of 4,800 feet. When you get to the creek crossing I would recommend finding a log crossing unless your coming when there is less water flowing.
From the basin, continue descending to Ingall's Creek. After meeting up with the Ingall's Creek Trail, turn right and hike down the valley for about 1/2 mile to a clearing, and the beginning of the Cascade Couloir ascent.
From the clearing on the Ingall's Creek trail (1/2 mile down valley from long's pass cutoff), head up through a boulder field towards the obvious Couloir. Ascend the straightforward Couloir, which opens up to talus slopes. Head for the snow field below the false summit. Ascend the snowfield (or skirt it to the left)
Off Route on the CC |
| 
Stuart Summit |
|
Ascending The Cascadian Couloir |
Heading Down Mount Stuart |
Heading Down Longs Pass |
Essential GearGear that is Mandatory all Year:
- 10 Essentials
- Helmet (although there is not a whole lot of rock fall, people often knock rocks down the gully on accident)
- Sun/Glacier Glasses
- Sunscreen
- 2-3 Nalgene Bottles (1 Liter Each)
Gear Needed for Early Season Conditions
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Extra Clothing (jacket, synthetic long sleeve, ect.)
Gear for Overnight Travel
- Tent/Bivy
- Sleeping Bag
- Sleeping Pad
- Stove & Fuel
- Filter/Water Tablets
I would also recommend bringing the camera on this beautiful mountain. Route ConditionsView the weather prediction for the Cascadian Couloir at the Noaa Forecast.
For the Avalanche Forecast be sure to check in with the North West Avalanche Center (seasonal).
For road conditions check with the Wenatchee National Forest, the road conditions that you would want is the "Teanaway" (#9737). The Cle Elm Ranger District can be contacted at (509) 852-1100 and are located at 803 W. 2nd Street, Cle Elum, WA 98922
Web Cams of the Road Conditions for Snoquamie Pass
Red Tape & Camping There is no permit required for any route up Mount Stuart. You do not have to have a Enchantments permit (or any other) to camp on the Cascadian Couloir or any other camping spot in the area as long as it's south of the summit of Mount Stuart.
You have quite a few options for camping:
- The Trailhead
- Ingalls Pass
- The Meadows Below Mount Stuart
- Above the Couloir
- And an Emergency Bivy Spot near the Summit
Filtering Water:
Near the Bottom of Mount Stuart in the meadows there is a creek which one could filter water from. Also there is a creek near the trailhead if your out for the way home. Fill up where possible because I don't recall there being a lot of water filtering zones.
Be sure you have enough time for this route if your doing this in a single day push. If you are a slower hiker, it is advised that you leave from the trailhead in early morning to avoid the heat of the day and to maximize on day light. For many this requires a full day of traveling. External Links & Trip Reports
Images
|
|
Alpine Lakes Wilderness
