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Above: The view south near the sum- mit of Mount Daniel. Inset: Hike members Scrambling Daniel (left to right) Bill A scramble up King County’s highest peak offers astounding views Chapman, Karen As a destination in the Central Cascades, Bob Olson, a lawyer and trails advocate. We left Daubert, Sally Jew- Mount Daniel has much to offer. Located in the Mercer Island at about 4:30 a.m. and returned ell, and Bob Olson on heart of the , Mount at about 10 p.m. after stopping for dinner. the summit of Mount Daniel is the highest point in King County. It I’ve taken this day trip twice, both times in Daniel. This is a provides fine views of peaks in all directions, late September, when the route is mostly snow- great late-summer from Baker to Rainier. The Pacific Crest Trail free (and bug-free), with colorful foliage, ripe scramble for experi- passes close by. A well-maintained trail takes blueberries, and benign weather. Take an ice enced hikers. Photo by Karl Forsgaard you most of the way there, and experienced axe. Crampons may also be useful but we did hikers will enjoy the cross-country hiking and not need them. Wilderness permits are required scrambling higher up. The route passes through but they are self-issued (there is no trail quota). beautiful wild country with diverse ecosys- There is plenty of reference material for this tems—from dry-side old growth forest through scrambling route, including Cascade Alpine high meadows, alpine terrain and ridge-walk- Guide by Fred Beckey, Selected Climbs in the ing. Cascades by Jim Nelson and Peter Potterfield, Many people climb Mount Daniel as an and 75 Scrambles in Washington by Peggy overnight backpack, camping at Peggy’s Pond— Goldman. The approach hike to Peggy’s Pond while others make the climb a long day trip. is also described in hiking guidebooks, includ- Karl Our group of five chose the latter approach, ing 100 Hikes in the Alpine Lakes by Ira Spring, a 17-hour day with 12 hours of hiking. Mount Vicky Spring and Harvey Manning. Forsgaard Daniel is also a high point of the Mountains to Cathedral Rock Trail ascends through forest, Karl is a WTA Sound Greenway, and there were three of us passing Squaw Lake at 2.5 miles, followed by advisory board from the Greenway Trust Board (Bill Chapman, ridgetop subalpine forest and meadows. At member from Sally Jewell and myself), plus Karen Daubert Mercer Island. who runs the Parks Foundation, and www.wta.org July+August 2009 » Washington Trails On Trail «

More Scrambles Experienced hikers can get to summits with knowledge of routefinding and how to use an ice ax. Consider taking ’ scrambling course. For more info, refer to Peggy Goldman’s book 75 Scrambles in Washington. Mount Angeles A faint way trail leads Peggy’s Pond and Cathedral rock, seen from the approach to Mount Daniel. to the summit of The 16-mile trip up Daniel can be done either as an overnight or a long day trip. this peak off of the Klahhane Ridge Trail point we stayed high, following a climbers’ ...continued from page 22 in Olympic National path in the talus on a long traverse across the Park. about 4.5 miles is a junction with the Pacific upper slopes. We crossed the southwest side Crest Trail; take it south a short distance to of the East Peak, to the saddle between it and Trappers Cathedral Pass (elevation 5,500 feet), itself a the Middle Summit, then traversed south of worthy hiking destination with good views. the Middle Summit, to a short scramble route Peak From Cathedral Pass, continue hiking on the on the south side of the West Summit (the true Most of this hike is southbound Pacific Crest Trail a short distance summit). This route skirts the upper margins of on trail to Thornton to another junction at a switchback, and turn the Daniel and Lynch Glaciers but does not go Lakes—only the northwest onto Trail 1375 (don’t descend the onto those glaciers. last half-mile or so Pacific Crest Trail to Deep Lake). Trail 1375 As you cross these high slopes and ridge- is a scramble up a traverses to Peggy’s Pond by contouring around lines, many peaks, lakes, glaciers and snow- well-marked boot the west side of Cathedral Rock. This trail has fields can be seen in all directions. To the north path that occasionally been described as a “goat path,” “a good climb- are , Sloan and the Monte Cristo requires using your Scrambling Daniel er’s trail,” and “primitive and nervous-making,” peaks. To the east is . To the hands. A scramble up King County’s highest peak offers astounding views but it’s relatively easy for experienced hikers. south along the Pacific Crest Trail are the many We reached Peggy’s Pond, a pretty place pointed spires of Bears Breast, Summit Chief, Labyrinth tucked beneath Cathedral Rock, and rested. Chimney Rock, Lemah Mountain and Chikamin Mount Daniel has five summits, and the high- Peak north of . To the west are Mountain est is the West Summit (its elevation is listed nearby , and aptly-named Pea Take the trail to variously as 7,960 or 7,986 feet). From Peggy’s Soup Lake at the bottom of the Lynch Glacier. Minotaur Lake, and Pond there are two main routes to the summit. Beyond are Necklace Valley and the Middle then do an easy off- You can follow unmarked way trails up the Fork Snoqualmie River. trail scramble to the Southeast Ridge, or you can ascend a creek into We had lunch on the West Summit at 1 p.m, top of this 6,376-foot the boulder-filled moraine valley that leads to and lingered to enjoy the wide-ranging views. peak. the Hyas Creek Glacier. We elected to ascend For our descent to Peggy’s Pond, we returned via the Hyas Creek Glacier and descend via to the saddle just south of the East Peak, then Carne Southeast Ridge for a nice loop. we walked down the Southeast Ridge, with Mountain Hyas Creek Glacier is now just a small rem- broad views down both sides of the rocky Once snow has nant of a glacier, an ice mass that some would ridgewalk—on the south side is Circle Lake, melted, there’s a fairly describe as a snowfield. You can pass it by and on the north side is the valley we had distinct trail most of circling its margins, or proceed directly across ascended including the Hyas Creek Glacier. the way to the sum- it toward the East Peak. Above it are rock Further down the ridge there was less rock and mit of Carne Moun- slabs that we scrambled up (many routes are more heather, and way trails to follow. Once tain (7,085 feet). possible). Above the rock was another, softer we returned to Peggy’s Pond, we were back on snowfield to climb. Above that we crossed well-established trails, and returned to the trail- over the ridge in a saddle just south of the head. From Cathedral Pass it’s almost entirely East Peak, getting views to the south, includ- downhill, which was good news for sore legs. ing Venus Lake and Spade Lake just below us, On the way home we stopped for dinner at Vil- and Mount Rainier in the distance. From this lage Pizza in Roslyn, tired and happy from our spectacular day on Mount Daniel. 