July 8, 2018, Ruth Mountain (North Cascades)
7/8/18
WA Cascades West Slopes North (Mt Baker)
2195
1
Headed up Highway 542 to Ruth Mountain today. The road to the trailhead is in good condition but that washout 100 m before the parking lot is big and there to stay for a while. All of the gullies on the way to Hannegan Pass are snow free except for one which has some lingering snow that is easily bypassed. A few patches of snow and some downed trees on the switchback section above camp on the way to the pass. The steep, loose section one takes after turning off at the pass is about 75% melted out and was relatively easy to get up, albeit with the usual cursing and swearing about what a pain that section always is.
Once at the top of that section, we put skis on. One can keep them on from there until the top of the peak except for one or two short carries while traversing over to the ridge below the peak. We opted to stick to the ridge as much as possible on our way to the base of the last climb to the summit and found continuous snow the entire way up that section. Easy skinning conditions all the way to the top except for a little slipping due to the growing suncups. The usual crevasses near the top were nowhere to be seen.
Once at the top, where the great views never cease to amaze me, it was time for a short run down the east facing slopes off the summit that point towards the Picketts, finding great snow for the first 500 feet and then growing suncups and runnels which made for a good reason to turn around and skin back up to the top. From there we came down the main climbing route which is starting to get a bit suncupped. We came down just before noon and it was probably a bit too early as, although the surface snow had softened, the sun cups were still somewhat firm and made for a mildy bumpy ride down. Once at the bottom, we traversed over to the track we took on the way up and headed back out.
Once at the top of that section, we put skis on. One can keep them on from there until the top of the peak except for one or two short carries while traversing over to the ridge below the peak. We opted to stick to the ridge as much as possible on our way to the base of the last climb to the summit and found continuous snow the entire way up that section. Easy skinning conditions all the way to the top except for a little slipping due to the growing suncups. The usual crevasses near the top were nowhere to be seen.
Once at the top, where the great views never cease to amaze me, it was time for a short run down the east facing slopes off the summit that point towards the Picketts, finding great snow for the first 500 feet and then growing suncups and runnels which made for a good reason to turn around and skin back up to the top. From there we came down the main climbing route which is starting to get a bit suncupped. We came down just before noon and it was probably a bit too early as, although the surface snow had softened, the sun cups were still somewhat firm and made for a mildy bumpy ride down. Once at the bottom, we traversed over to the track we took on the way up and headed back out.
Your photos make me want to visit Ruth Mtn. Thanks for the report!
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