Mount McCausland via Smithbrook (attempted)

Through a bit of design and a bit of chance Ian, Carla, Mark, Janet, Kim, and I met at the plowed parking area a few hundred feet east of the intersection of Highway 2 and Smithbrook Road (Road 6700).

We headed up Smithbrook Road until we reached the hairpin turn at 4,000'. The road was thoroughly tracked by snowshoes, skis, and snowmobiles.

At the hairpin turn we left the road and broke our own trail heading SW up the valley, keeping on the N side of Smith Brook. At the 4,640'+ meadow ESE of Mount McCausland we decided we were out of time and headed back to the cars.

Most of us skied the whole route back. Although much of the off-trail was wooded, it was always open enough to be enjoyable on skis.

Date:

2006/12/02

Elevation gain:

1,655 feet

Trip type:

backcountry ski

USGS quad:

Labyrinth Mountain

In:

Highway 2 Corridor

Car-to-car:

5 hours 47 minutes

1 hour 54 minutes driving there (I-5/Hwy2) from 65th Street Park and Ride to Highway 2 and Smithbrook Road
3 hours 46 minutes ascending from Highway 2 and Smithbrook Road to meadow below McCausland
2 hours 1 minute descending from meadow below McCausland to Highway 2 and Smithbrook Road
2 hours 4 minutes driving back (Hwy2/522/I-405/520 (slow)/I-5) from Highway 2 and Smithbrook Road to 65th Street Park and Ride

Ian skiing through the woods on the way to McCausland

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