farrisgl - Mar 4, 2009 1:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 16, 1990
Outstanding view of the I90 corridor
Hiked this on a really clear Pacific Northwest day in the late afternoon. The view off the top of the butte provided a strikingly good look down on I90.
Curtissimo - Dec 20, 2008 5:21 pm Date Climbed: May 21, 2005
with Magellan
scramble is pretty easy in dry weather (not for kids though)
TheBootfitter - Nov 17, 2008 7:53 pm Date Climbed: Nov 16, 2008
Solo via Trail #1015
Good training hike, though nothing extraordinary about the hike itself. The scramble at the top definitely got my attention! Though technically quite easy (class 2-3), the exposure is pretty significant. It took me a few moments to gather my courage and get to the top. Great views on a mostly clear day! I saw Baker, Glacier, Stuart, Rainier & Adams!
gimpilator - Nov 16, 2008 10:43 pm Date Climbed: Nov 16, 2008
Busy busy
Good to be back. This was an unofficial OSAT trip. There were about 8 of us in our group and a total of 21 people and 4 dogs on the summit.
Great day hike with good views. The scramble at the end gets you clear of the trees for good views.
bmwboarder7 - Jul 22, 2008 12:05 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2008
Sweet hike and scramble
All around a good hike. There were lots of mosquitos, and even in late July there was more snow then I planned on, making the last little bit quite fun, but otherwise good. The weather was great, the scramble was fun and not too hard, though I agree there is some definite exposure. Also saw several Pileated Woodpeckers, probably the most I've ever seen in one place. No mtn goats though sadly.
Dan Winter - Jun 6, 2008 5:10 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2000
standard route
I have been up this a number of times. Turned back on one attempt because of rhime ice on the final scramble part. Everyone I know calls this mountain McClellans Butt!
Doehle - Sep 25, 2007 5:40 pm Date Climbed: Nov 4, 2006
Good Conditioner
Nice scramble at the top
pkrebs - Aug 20, 2007 4:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2007
Main Trail
Good conditioning hike, very similar to Mt. Si but a little longer. Short scramble to the top was fun.
Hiked it many times with DAF... Fun little scramble at the top. Good if you want to avoid the crowds on Si...
RdyHiker - Dec 20, 2006 10:13 pm Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2006
Mountain Goats on this Side of the Pass!
And would you believe neither my hiking partner nor I brought our cameras that day?! Two goats - they looked to be young'ens - stared down at us as we rounded the last corner. We were not the only hikers amazed to see them there. The other handful of people on the trail were as stunned and excited as we were. Terrific day, aside from the goats, also- perfect weather, great new hiking buddy and a good workout. I like this trail despite the grim trek up the road at the start. I'll like it even more when the very latest newly blazed section, bypassing the road, opens soon.
larryN - Dec 4, 2006 3:56 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2005
Good alternative to Mt Si
Like others have said, be careful at the top. After hiking on a trail for the entire approach, the final scramble exposure gets your attention.
Kyle Bissell - Nov 12, 2006 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2006
beast hike
Made it to the base of the summit scramble with about 1.5 hours of daylight left... decided to wait until a day with more time. New trail reworking by the WTA is wonderful, however it does make the hike about 10-15 minutes longer.
osatrik - Aug 26, 2006 4:36 pm Date Climbed: Mar 27, 1993
Best of the Corridor
Date is my first climb -- the year they were working on the Mt. Si trail and had it closed. I've hiked it at least once a year since then, and frequently several times a year.
Of all the hikes along I-90 from Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass, this is the best for (1) easy access (2) good trail (3) nice views (4) pleasant scramble at the top.
Ever since they closed the old trail (bridge was wiped out by the creek in the 1990s) that followed an old wooden pipeline, and moved the trailhead to the current location, I've been torn between doing that, with the long traverse to the real trail, or going up the forest service road that cuts off the lower mile.
Hint -- if you go to the actual trailhead, take the old, overgrown road bed just below the forest service road for the traverse. Its much more pleasant thank hiking 3/8 mile on the gravel.
During the winter and spring you can cut off the large loop to the south by going up the steep avalanche gully if you are comfortable on steep (up to 45 degree) snow and alpine ice. Makes a great spring climb when the conditions are good, and was the way I climbed the mountain the first 3 or 4 times I did it.
gimpilator - May 22, 2006 2:19 am Date Climbed: May 21, 2006
Bushwhacking
Encountered compact snow above 3500 feet making it impossible to follow the trail. Got turned around a few times but eventually came to the right side of the final scramble. This is the moment the weather chose to turn ugly. Rain with strong gusts almost turned me around but thoughts of the summit took me all the way. Be careful on those avalanche gullies. Next time I'll make sure to bring my axe.
ren - Feb 16, 2006 1:53 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2004
Route Climbed: Standard 6/12/04
I still want to do the North gully ascent. Waiting for the right conditions.
farrisgl - Mar 4, 2009 1:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 16, 1990
Outstanding view of the I90 corridorHiked this on a really clear Pacific Northwest day in the late afternoon. The view off the top of the butte provided a strikingly good look down on I90.
Curtissimo - Dec 20, 2008 5:21 pm Date Climbed: May 21, 2005
with Magellanscramble is pretty easy in dry weather (not for kids though)
TheBootfitter - Nov 17, 2008 7:53 pm Date Climbed: Nov 16, 2008
Solo via Trail #1015Good training hike, though nothing extraordinary about the hike itself. The scramble at the top definitely got my attention! Though technically quite easy (class 2-3), the exposure is pretty significant. It took me a few moments to gather my courage and get to the top. Great views on a mostly clear day! I saw Baker, Glacier, Stuart, Rainier & Adams!
gimpilator - Nov 16, 2008 10:43 pm Date Climbed: Nov 16, 2008
Busy busyGood to be back. This was an unofficial OSAT trip. There were about 8 of us in our group and a total of 21 people and 4 dogs on the summit.
bgratias - Oct 29, 2008 4:42 pm
Better than SiThe drive is a little longer than for Mt. Si, but it is worth it because it is a longer hike with fewer people.
lukic - Oct 1, 2008 11:15 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2008
Nice hikeNice conditioning hike with a little scramble at the end.
Jer - Aug 19, 2008 3:18 pm
Great hike close to SeattleGreat day hike with good views. The scramble at the end gets you clear of the trees for good views.
bmwboarder7 - Jul 22, 2008 12:05 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2008
Sweet hike and scrambleAll around a good hike. There were lots of mosquitos, and even in late July there was more snow then I planned on, making the last little bit quite fun, but otherwise good. The weather was great, the scramble was fun and not too hard, though I agree there is some definite exposure. Also saw several Pileated Woodpeckers, probably the most I've ever seen in one place. No mtn goats though sadly.
Dan Winter - Jun 6, 2008 5:10 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2000
standard routeI have been up this a number of times. Turned back on one attempt because of rhime ice on the final scramble part. Everyone I know calls this mountain McClellans Butt!
Doehle - Sep 25, 2007 5:40 pm Date Climbed: Nov 4, 2006
Good ConditionerNice scramble at the top
pkrebs - Aug 20, 2007 4:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2007
Main TrailGood conditioning hike, very similar to Mt. Si but a little longer. Short scramble to the top was fun.
Krylon - May 24, 2007 6:12 pm
TrailBeen up there four or five times. Never the scramble to the summit though
nodbod - Jan 19, 2007 10:45 pm
Fun HikeHiked it many times with DAF... Fun little scramble at the top. Good if you want to avoid the crowds on Si...
RdyHiker - Dec 20, 2006 10:13 pm Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2006
Mountain Goats on this Side of the Pass!And would you believe neither my hiking partner nor I brought our cameras that day?! Two goats - they looked to be young'ens - stared down at us as we rounded the last corner. We were not the only hikers amazed to see them there. The other handful of people on the trail were as stunned and excited as we were. Terrific day, aside from the goats, also- perfect weather, great new hiking buddy and a good workout. I like this trail despite the grim trek up the road at the start. I'll like it even more when the very latest newly blazed section, bypassing the road, opens soon.
larryN - Dec 4, 2006 3:56 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2005
Good alternative to Mt SiLike others have said, be careful at the top. After hiking on a trail for the entire approach, the final scramble exposure gets your attention.
Kyle Bissell - Nov 12, 2006 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2006
beast hikeMade it to the base of the summit scramble with about 1.5 hours of daylight left... decided to wait until a day with more time. New trail reworking by the WTA is wonderful, however it does make the hike about 10-15 minutes longer.
osatrik - Aug 26, 2006 4:36 pm Date Climbed: Mar 27, 1993
Best of the CorridorDate is my first climb -- the year they were working on the Mt. Si trail and had it closed. I've hiked it at least once a year since then, and frequently several times a year.
Of all the hikes along I-90 from Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass, this is the best for (1) easy access (2) good trail (3) nice views (4) pleasant scramble at the top.
Ever since they closed the old trail (bridge was wiped out by the creek in the 1990s) that followed an old wooden pipeline, and moved the trailhead to the current location, I've been torn between doing that, with the long traverse to the real trail, or going up the forest service road that cuts off the lower mile.
Hint -- if you go to the actual trailhead, take the old, overgrown road bed just below the forest service road for the traverse. Its much more pleasant thank hiking 3/8 mile on the gravel.
During the winter and spring you can cut off the large loop to the south by going up the steep avalanche gully if you are comfortable on steep (up to 45 degree) snow and alpine ice. Makes a great spring climb when the conditions are good, and was the way I climbed the mountain the first 3 or 4 times I did it.
supermarmot - Jul 9, 2006 6:58 am
the gravel road killed it for me...another reminder to stay north of I-90 i guess...
gimpilator - May 22, 2006 2:19 am Date Climbed: May 21, 2006
BushwhackingEncountered compact snow above 3500 feet making it impossible to follow the trail. Got turned around a few times but eventually came to the right side of the final scramble. This is the moment the weather chose to turn ugly. Rain with strong gusts almost turned me around but thoughts of the summit took me all the way. Be careful on those avalanche gullies. Next time I'll make sure to bring my axe.
ren - Feb 16, 2006 1:53 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2004
Route Climbed: Standard 6/12/04I still want to do the North gully ascent. Waiting for the right conditions.