Mount Stickney : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost

Overview

Located between the Sultan and Skykomish River Valleys, Mount Stickney is a prominent and noticeable peak while driving highway 2 eastbound. Getting to the top requires a bit of route finding, bringing the right gear and some extra push for the first 4 miles. You'll be either walking, biking, skiing or snowshoeing to get yourself to the good stuff. Because of the low elevation start and it's western location in the Cascades, Mount Stickney makes for a good winter ascent. According to the Cascade Alpine Guide, Stickney was first named Prospect Mountain but later dedicated to a prospector who spent years on nearby claims. It is said he went to Alaska in 1898 and was later killed by wolves.

Stickney from Gold Bar, photo from Redwic

Looking from the summit of Mount Zekes, photo from Flow

Stickney in Winter, photo from Flow

Getting There

Take Highway 2 east from Monroe to Sultan, then a left turn on the Sultan Basin Road (a traffic light east of town center). Follow the Sultan Basin Road for 11.5 miles, then turn right on Olney Creek logging road until it becomes impassable, usually within a half mile (or gated at the start now Sept 2012). In 2009 the Sultan Basin Road was barricaded just 0.1 mile before the pavement ends, about 10.1 miles from Hwy 2. I believe it was reopened by 2010. Check conditions before heading out.

Stickney

Red Tape

No red tape.

Skykomish Ranger Station
Location:
74920 NE Stevens Pass Hwy.
PO Box 305
Skykomish, WA 98288
Phone Number: (360) 677-2414
Driving Directions: US Highway 2 to milepost 50, one mile east of the town of Skykomish.

Camping

You could stay at the Lake Bronson Associates nudist club with campgrounds, rental cabins, RV hookups, a private lake, tennis courts and recreational facilities on the Sultan Basin Road. Visit
Lake Bronson Club

External Links

10/27/2007 Trip report from nwhikers.net by Dicey, JeffR, PaulK, Mesahchie Mark Click HERE

NW Ridge Route

Here are the route directions according to the Cascade Alpine Guide, they are good. In winter, it's straightforward following the topography on the map.

Hike the roadway about 200 yds past the ridge saddle, then turn onto a forest path to a crest; then along the ridge until the path fades at about 4200 ft. Continue SE to a pond NE of point 4875, then hike SE to the crest of another ridge. Traverse on an open slope SE and S into the rocky summit basin. Scramble a talus/dirt slope to the summit ridge, then follow the crest E to a small plateau. Walk or scoot across a short exposed ridge section to teh summit hump; walk to the top."

In winter, most groups rope up for the gulley to reach the summit ridge.