Trappers Peak
Updated: Nov 16, 2022
Hike Stats:
Distance: 10.6 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 3300 feet
Location: North Cascades National Park
Date Hiked: July 2020
Towards the beginning of my intern year of residency, I found myself with a surprise three day weekend and no plans (seeing as a regular two day weekend is considered “golden,” this is the rarest of rare occurrences). Already looking for an excuse to get out of Texas (sorry Texans), I found an affordable flight to Seattle and decided to make the trek up to North Cascades National Park. With a fair amount of the park’s higher elevation trails inaccessible due to remaining snowpack, I picked a random trail that sounded like it would have some decent mountain range views and headed up the somewhat sketchy but manageable dirt road that led to the trailhead. After chatting a bit with a nice couple at the trailhead (Hello to Kate and Ruben if you’re seeing this!), I set off.
The first two miles of the trail were pretty easy and straightforward, following along an old logging road. There were a couple of small water crossings and muddy areas along this section as well as a few clusters of Columbine wildflowers.
The logging road eventually turned into dirt switchbacks that weaved their way up through the forest. The morning light filtering through the trees was gorgeous, but I was too busy picking my way through the clusters of slippery roots to pay much attention.
This section of switchbacks led me to the junction where the trail splits off to either Thornton Lake or Trappers Peak. Preferring to take in the views from above, I chose to continue on to Trappers Peak. Not really knowing what to expect, I slipped on my microspikes and slowly made my way up the snow-covered slope that led to the base of the rock scramble section, managing to fall only three times (ha!). This section gave me a few glimpses of the surrounding mountain peaks.
Then came the fun part - the scramble! I love a good rock scramble in which I have to use my hands to propel myself up a mountainside. The first section was particularly interesting as I had to problem-solve my way up a few parts that were not...optimal for someone who is only 5’2”. It reminded me a bit of one of those Strange Planet comics by Nathan Pyle.
The first scramble deposited me onto a small ridge made up of subalpine meadows with tiny pink flowers that brightly contrasted against the blue-green coloring of the surrounding mountains and grey skies. I could also spot the tiny town of Newhalem from here.
Stopping here would’ve made the hike worth it, but I knew I still had a ways to go so I continued making my way along the ridge, taking care to steer clear of the cornices that with one misstep would’ve signified a swift but unpleasant death.
This ridgeline section was somewhat exposed but overall safe and manageable, and offered some of my favorite views of the stunning Thornton Lakes below. With it still being early in the season, the lakes were still mostly covered in ice, and it took me a while to realize that there were actually three of them nestled among the mountains!
Having gotten distracted yet again by the views, two groups of people caught up to me with one more short scramble remaining. We introduced ourselves and chatted a bit about the hike and our respective trips before picking our way through the final climb together.
Making my way up and over the final hump of Trappers Peak opened up more views than I could’ve imagined. None of the AllTrails descriptions of the hike could’ve prepared me for just how incredible and beautiful the snow-capped peaks of the Pickett Range were. I lingered at the summit for a long while, savoring my lunch and just enjoying the feeling of insignificance that one gets when faced with nature’s grandeur. I got to chatting again with the mountaineering couple I met on the final climb and they sent me a few pictures they had snapped of me which was so nice!
I reluctantly made my way back down the mountain, at that point having resolved to one day move to Washington so that I can climb mountains like Trappers Peak all the time. Whether or not this actually happens or is just wishful thinking is yet to be known!
Going down the snow-covered slope that originally led up to the base of the climbing section was not nearly as fun. After wiping out several times, I finally resigned myself to just scooting down it on my butt.
Coming back down through the forested switchback section was perhaps more treacherous than the rock scramble, with hundreds of slippery roots threatening to grab ahold of and twist an ankle. Funnily enough, I ran back into Kate and Ruben from earlier who were coming back from Thornton Lake, and we ended up hiking back the rest of the way together, our conversation helping to keep the spirits up. Much attention is rightfully placed on the beautiful parts of a hike and the summits; no one really mentions how much the trek back can suck sometimes! But overall, Trappers Peak was a really fun and enjoyable hike and I can’t wait to do this one again!
Bonus pics:
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