Last Updated: February 1, 2025



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Oh my! Quite the backlog here...

  • Rattlesnake Ledge (WA) - hike (November 2023)
  • Sauk Mountain (WA) - hike (November 2023)
  • Sunshine Coast (Mount Daniel, Pender Hill) - hike (November 2023)
  • Mount Dickerman (WA) - hike (November 2022)
  • Verona Peak AKA Winter's End - snowshoe (November 2023)
  • Dolomites (IT) - snowboard (December 2023)
  • Red Rock Canyon (NV) - scramble (January 2024)
  • Flute Summit & Oboe Summit - snowboard (February 2024)
  • Whistler Miscellaneous (Train Wreck, Loggers Lake, Shadow Lake and more) - hike (February 2024)
  • Mount Underhill - hike (March 2024)
  • Bombtram Mountain - snowshoe (March 2024)
  • Steep Peak - snowboard (March 2024)
  • Ruby Mountain (WA) - snowshoe (April 2024)
  • Blustry Mountain - hike (April 2024)
  • Sowerby Peak (Barr East) - snowshoe (April 2024)
  • Picacho Peak (AZ) - hike (April 2024)
  • Kitt Peak Observatory (AZ) - (April 2024)
  • Mount Wrightson (AZ) - hike (April 2024)
  • Saguaro National Park (AZ) - April 2024)
  • Superstition Peak/Benchmark (AZ) - scramble (April 2024)
  • Mount Humphreys (AZ) - hike (May 2024)
  • Petrified Forest National Park (AZ) - (May 2024)
  • Piestewa Peak (AZ) - hike (May 2024)
  • Channeled Scablands (WA | Columbia Gorge, Ancient Lakes, Potholes Lake, Palouse Falls and more) - hike (May 2024)
  • Rhododendron Mountain ("Pk. 2220") - snowshoe (June 2024)
  • Flora Peak - hike (June 2024)
  • Gibson Peak - snowshoe (June 2024)
  • Mount Urquhart - scramble (June 2024)
  • Rock Mountain (WA) - hike (July 2024)
  • Ladies Pass Quartet (WA | Cape Horn, Ladies Peak, Snowgrass NE Peak, Snowgrass Mountain) - scramble (July 2024)
  • Old Snowy (WA) - scramble (July 2024)
  • Dog Mountain (WA) - hike (July 2024)
  • Mount Ratney & Mount Bardean - scramble (July 2024)
  • Torrent Peak - scramble (July 2024)
  • Steep Peak - Darkside Peak Traverse - scramble (July 2024)
  • Silvertip Mountain - scramble (July 2024)
  • The Old Settler - scramble (July 2024)
  • Silent Hub Peak - scramble (August 2024)
  • Saint Jacobs Mountain - scramble (August 2024)
  • Mount David (WA) - scramble (August 2024)
  • Goat Mountain West Peak & Table Mountain (WA) - hike (August 2024)
  • Griswold Pass (Tuber Hill, Glacier View Peak, Subatomic Peaks: Baryon, Meson, Muon, Lepton) - scramble (September 2024)
  • Yellow Aster Butte (WA) - hike (September 2024)
  • Mazama Dome (WA) - hike (September 2024)
  • Ptarmigan Ridge - (WA | The Portals East Peak, Coleman Pinnacle) - hike (September 2024)
  • Tetrahedron Peak - scramble (September 2024)
  • Lone Cone & Peak 86 (Tofino) - hike (September 2024)
  • Mount Athelstan ("Pk. 2460") - scramble (September 2024)
  • Excelsior Peak and Cowap Peak (WA) - hike (October 2024)
  • Hollyburn Peak - hike (October 2024)
  • Cheam Peak - hike (October 2024)
  • Blanchard Needle - scramble (October 2024)
  • Debeck's Hill & 4 Lakes Loop - hike (October 2024)
  • Mount Hallowell - hike (November 2024)
  • Anderson Mountain (WA) - hike (December 2024)
  • Sumas Mountain (WA) - hike (December 2024)
  • Gloria (Peak) Lookout - hike (January 2025)

*As of 02/01/2025


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Saturday, February 1, 2025

Park Butte - via Park Butte Trail, October 2023



Rising steeply above Thornton Lake in the North Cascades of Washington, 5,966-foot trappers peak makes for an outstanding shoulder season objective with incredible 360-degree views. Fresh from hiking Park Butte near Mount Baker, I proceeded to the Thornton Lakes Trailhead for a fine can-o-chilli dinner and car camp on a brisk late October evening. Got going the next day, chasing another party who had arrived that morning in their Subaru and woke me from my blissful slumber. The Thornton Lakes Trail climbs through beautiful forest to a ridge crest at 5,000 ft with views down to the Thornton Lakes and across to Mount Triumph. Stopped here for a few minutes to reflect on the previous times I was up here en route to climb the Northeast Ridge of Mount Triumph some 22 years ago and more recently Mount Despair about 14 years ago. Seems like just yesterday!

I ignored the trail that descends to the lakes this time and instead proceeded along a climbers path up the ridge before me. Encountered some snow here, but thanks to the approach being largely south-facing, I found it to be inconsequential...plus I had tracks to follow! Up to the supposed "crux" knife edge, which I found to be a big nothing and then on up to the summit where BAM! a tremendous view on the Picket Range slaps you in the face! Been a while since I'd seen these peaks from up close, and rest assured they still inspire me to this day!

Looking around, so many peaks and glaciers to behold and for me to reflect on adventures of decades past. Thornton and Triumph to the NW with "The Fence" dominating the view to the north. A sliver of Diablo Lake, Jack Mountain and Crater Mountain to the ENE with peaks of the Snowfield Group closer to the ESE. Then SE to the Inspiration-Klawatti Icecap area with Big Devil and co. to the south. And finally, a fine view looking west down the Skagit River Valley with Whitehorse and Three Fingers standing proud in the distance. It has been said that Trappers is a personal favorite of local peakbagging legend John Roper and that this peak inspired his passion for mountaineering in the Washington Cascades. Having finally been up top myself, I can certainly appreciate why ol' Roper felt the way he did!

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