OverviewTownsend Mountain (not to be confused with Mount Townsend in the Olympics) is located in the Wild Sky area of the North Cascades, near Merchant Peak and Mount Baring. It is a gentle-sloped mountain, except for the northeast slope and has a long ridge running NW to SE.
Route DescriptionDrive US Highway 2 to milepost 42 in the town of Baring. Turn north onto 632nd Place NE (Barclay Creek Road), which is directly across from “Der Baring Store.” Cross the railroad tracks and continue for 4.3 miles on FS Road #6024 to the trailhead.
Follow this trail to the lake, and continue around the lake to the opposite end and you should see a faint path which continues along Barclay Creek for a bit and then heads steeply uphill to the northeast. This trail leads to Stone Lake, then passes through Paradise Meadow to Eagle Lake.
Go around the right side of Eagle Lake for a short distance then head straight uphill to the NE aiming for the 5360' saddle on the ridge. There is a lot of brush here in the summer. Partway up it opens up and there is some steep rock, but it can be negotiated fairly easily. Once atop the ridge, head E along the ridge crest to the high point.
Note: I climbed this peak as a traverse from Merchant Peak which is also possible, but not very easy. I wrote a trip report here.Red TapeNW Forest Pass is required to park at Barclay Lake trailhead.
Eagle Lake & Mt Baring |
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