Denny Mountain loop via Alpental

Ian and I parked at Alpental and followed the southernmost ski lift up the east slopes of Denny Mountain. Before reaching the top of the lift we went left and kicked steps up the gully that runs to the col between point 4615 and point 45120+. We had lunch on point 4615 where we had views of Snoqualmie Mountain, Red Mountain (Snoqualmie Pass quad), Rampart Ridge, and Guye Peak (great views of Guye).

We then headed SW along the ridge back to the ski lifts and followed a lift NW up Denny and through a steep, wet, icy, rocky gully (watch the avalanche conditions here). At the top of the gully we ascended a bit then headed right and climbed up wet, mossy rock to the ridge NE of the lift. There were such nice views up there, Chair Peak, Garfield Mountain, Avalanche Mountain, Chikamin Peak, and I could go on and on.

We took a break when we made it to the top of the lift. I decided we should turn around since it was getting late and the snow was as cruddy as it could possibly be (not fun to walk on). After a 20 minute break we headed up the summit. We followed the top of the ridge to the big, broken rocks of the summit block and climbed up between them.

At the summit I pointed out the plastic Buddha that was taped to the radio tower. Then we headed down. We took a more moderate route when leaving the summit block, we went south a bit and descended a little snow finger down the lower part of the summit block.

From the upper lift we descended the north side of Denny Mountain via a double black diamond ski run that heads north from the summit and then circles around east and south to the lower ski area. Some good glissading on this descent route. Also some dangerous avalanche slopes.

  • Date:
    2004/12/18
    Elevation gain:
    2,720 feet
    Trip type:
    scramble
    USGS quad:
    Snoqualmie Pass
    In:
    South Fork Snoqualmie Drainage
    Car-to-car:
    6 hours 29 minutes
    • 12 minutes driving from Lower Queen Anne to Mercer Island Park and Ride
    • 47 minutes driving from Mercer Island Park and Ride to Alpental
    • 1 hour 51 minutes ascending from Alpental to Denny Ridge Point 4615
    • 32 minutes ascending from Denny Ridge Point 4615 to the pass
    • 1 hour 38 minutes ascending from the pass to top of the upper chairlift
    • 22 minutes ascending from top of the upper chairlift to Denny Mountain
    • 1 hour 19 minutes descending from Denny Mountain to Alpental

    References

    • Copyright © 2024 Gabriel Deal.