Cascades Crown Jewel: Skiing Glacier Peak/Dakobed

At 10,545’, Glacier Peak/Dakobed is the fifth tallest peak in Washington. It’s also the most remote of the state’s five major volcanos. While all of the other volcanos can be seen from major highways and cities, Glacier Peak is the recluse of the group, cradled deep within the Central Cascades. Summiting the volcano requires a 34 mile round-trip hike with 10,000+’ of gain and is usually done in two to three days. This is a volcano Alex and I have been wanting to ski since we first started ski mountaineering a couple years ago, but its remoteness and reputation as a rugged peak kept us away until this year.

Backcountry Ski Trips, Glacier Peaks Wilderness, Mountaineering, Washington, Central CascadesSonja SaxeJune 7, 2023

Backpacking the Spider Gap - Buck Creek Loop in Glacier Peak Wilderness

Labor Day weekend is usually one of my favorite weekends to head out into the depths of the backcountry. The snow has long since melted, the days are still long and warm, and the bugs usually have declined to manageable levels. While 2020 may have put a damper on many trips, we were still going to make the most of our Labor Day. We planned to complete a four day trip in the Glacier Peak Wilderness that we have been dreaming of doing for years—the Spider Gap - Buck Creek Loop.

Glacier Peaks Wilderness, Backpacking Trips, WashingtonSonja SaxeSeptember 21, 2020 Comment