Wanting to make the most out of a day hike Boot and I decided to head out to the opposing ridge of Crystal Mountain. Starting at the Norse Peak trail and following the Pacific Crest Trail before finally exiting via Silver Basin. Heading through this route we would pass numerous ski trips we had in the past as well as great views. Basically this was a trip down memory lane.
Hiking up the Norse Peak Trail
After Boot dropped off his bike at the Crystal Mountain parking lot we started hiking up the Norse Peak Trail. Heading through the forests we joked about being on the final switchback only to find another one. After around 30 minutes of hiking we got to the first clearing and had a nice view up the Crystal Mountain valley.
Once at the low col of Goat Lake Basin we ditched the Norse Peak Trail and made our way towards Goat Lake Basin with the plan to go through the lower alpine bowls on the east side of the crest.
Heading through Goat Lake Basin we couldn’t help but look up the numerous chutes along the way. This had been a go to spot for us for over a decade with us bringing up stories of steep lines and failed skins.
Wrapping around past Big Crow Basin and Lake Basin we were back on the main ridge across from Crystal Mountain. Standing proud being the ski rest the East side of Mount Rainier protruded an addition 7,000 feet.
Hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail we could see the devastation of the wild fires a few years back. The upper trees had been torched leaving a dire landscape.
The next area we were passing was Bullion Peak. Being the main area to get into the northern backcountry of Crystal Mountain we had skinned through the basin hundreds of times.
Hiking towards Crown Point we had a great view of Morse Creek below us and Mount Adams in the distance.
Our final peak of the trail was Pickhandle Peak wrapping around the north face. Being on the Pacific Crest Trail we passed by numerous through hikers. While walking by I would ask them there favourite part of the PCT and numerous people wandered “The Goat Rocks”
Once at Bear Gap we followed the trail down to Lower Hen Skin Lake.
Following the Hen Skin Lake trail our final descent of the hike was the Quicksilver run at Crystal Mountain. Making our way down we could see most of our route and the starting point being the far left mountain in the photo below.
This trip if an incredibly scenic route that I would be happy to do again. Being early September we didn’t pass by any water but with a few detours we could have. With half the trip being on the Pacific Crest Trail it was pretty crowded but that is to be expected. This would be great to extend all the way through the ridge of Crystal Mountain itself and ending at the Northback trail but that will have to wait for another year……
Thank you for making it to the end and here is a list of the hiking trips in Summer 2022.
Overnight Camping at Robin Lakes
Stevens Ridge to Cowlitz Park-MRNP
Hawkeye Point Goat Rocks Wilderness
If you want to read about more hiking trips click here