Mount Catherine and Rockdale Ridge via Hyak

Ben and I parked in the Hyak parking lot and skinned up Mount Hyak underneath the south lift. We descended to the clear-cut basin to the west, and entered the old-growth forest on the other side. When we made it to the 4,000'+ pass between Mount Catherine and Rockdale Ridge (point 4,440'+), we headed south then east following the ridge to the summit of Mount Catherine.

The summit is clear of trees and has 360 degree views, with good close-up views of Silver Peak and Tinkham Peak, and nice views of many Snoqualmie Pass peaks like Red Mountain (Snoqualmie Pass quad), Lundin Peak, Rampart Ridge, Guye Peak, Granite Mountain (Snoqualmie Pass quad), Snoqualmie Mountain, etc. In the distance we could see Mount Stuart and Big Snow Mountain.

From the summit we headed back west down the ridge, we overshot and ended up in Olallie Meadow. From Olallie Meadow we skied up the south side of Rockdale Ridge. There are some tight trees here, this side of the ridge wouldn't be good to ski down.

We descended the north side of the ridge, which provided good skiing. Soon we caught a maintenance road which I assume leads to the radio tower on the north side of the ridge. We followed the maze of roads through the nordic ski area back to Hyak.

  • Date:
    2006/04/29
    Elevation gain:
    3,285 feet
    Trip type:
    backcountry ski
    USGS quads:
    Snoqualmie Pass, Lost Lake
    Car-to-car:
    7 hours 28 minutes
    • 3 hours 38 minutes ascending from Hyak parking lot to summit of Mount Catherine
    • 44 minutes descending from summit of Mount Catherine to Olallie Meadow
    • 1 hour 4 minutes ascending from Olallie Meadow to top of Rockdale Ridge
    • 1 hour 6 minutes descending from top of Rockdale Ridge to on logging roads
    • 12 minutes descending from on logging roads to side of Hyak Mountain
    • 9 minutes descending from side of Hyak Mountain to Hyak parking lot

    References

    • Trip reports: I-90 winter climbs
    • Winter guide book: Winter Climbs: One Day Ascents (out of print)
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  • Mount Catherine from Mount Hyak
    Mount Catherine from Mount Hyak
  • Granite Mountain (Snoqualmie Pass quad) and Bandera Mountain from Hyak Mountain
    Granite Mountain (Snoqualmie Pass quad) and Bandera Mountain from Hyak Mountain
  • Ben on summit of Mount Catherine
    Ben on summit of Mount Catherine
  • Snoqualmie Pass peaks from summit of Mount Catherine
    Snoqualmie Pass peaks from summit of Mount Catherine
  • South Fork Snoqualmie Valley from summit of Mount Catherine
    South Fork Snoqualmie Valley from summit of Mount Catherine
  • Tinkham Peak from summit of Mount Catherine
    Tinkham Peak from summit of Mount Catherine
  • Silver Peak from summit of Mount Catherine
    Silver Peak from summit of Mount Catherine

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