Abernathy peak can be found right outside of Winthrop on the Eastern Border of the North Cascades. On the very edge of the Washington Cascades this dynamic range rises to over 8,500 feet. Finding mellow and aggressive lines being abundant from the summit Abernathy, this zone was the perfect place to go for a ski tour. Driving through Highway 20 we were soon on the Eastern Cascades check out the backcountry.

The area around this peak almost became a mega resort . The locals went back and forth between decisions then finally voted against it. The same company decided to invest up north and built a ski resort called Whistler/Blackcomb. The area would have been a completely different place if the ski resort would have happened.

Hiking up Abernathy Peak in the North Cascades

The weather forecast was looking much more forgiving on the eastern side of the Cascades so that was the area of interest. After looking through the maps Jessie and I decided to do an overnight trip on Abernathy Peak. It seemed the area would be easy access as well as great riding. Hiking up the summer trail for 2 hours we soon arrived at the open upper slopes and Scatter Lake. The camp spot was put on the shores of Scatter Lake before climbing the final slopes. From our camping spot there was 1400 feet of open face arriving at the summit.

 

My goal on Abernathy was to ski an aggressive couloir on the north face which would provided perfect steep turns as well as being scenic. Jason Hummel had given me beta on the route since being there with Phil Fortier 4 years prior. From what I could tell it had a perfect balance of steep and mellow slopes. This area was new to me and I felt it was time to head to the Eastern most area of the North Cascades. Although it would be a 6 hour drive from the Seattle area this would keep crowds down.

 

(Thanks for the photo Tazz)

Hiking to the Summit of Abernathy Peak

Hiking up to the summit it was easy and relatively mellow loosely following a potential ski line. Climbing up I looked at the options noticing that the main gully would of course have some great skiing. Soon I was on the summit of Abernathy Peak and taking in the view of the Cascades to the West. It was a windless day and below me and before long looking at the steep north face hoping that it wouldn’t be firm snow. It was time to snowboard the line I had come for.

Snowboarding down the North Face

Sketchily I dropped into the north face carefully knowing it was riddled with exposure. I made a few cautious turns to test snow conditions and found a few inches of soft snow. Riding down I was happy to find that the snowpack had excellent edge ability.

Riding into the couloir proper I made my way over to the sidewalls to stay out of a 2 foot deep trench. The area was quite steep bu fun as I made my way down the tight section a turn at a time. The slopes smoothed out arriving on a mellow apron below and making high speed turn. Finally I had made it to the bottom of the snowline and it was time to climb back up. The line was super fun and had just the right amount of steeps and mellow slopes. I was super happy with my decision to head out and ride the North face but now it was time to climb back up.

Climbing Back up the North Face

Preparing to climb 2000 feet of steep exposed route I had axes in hand and made my way up retracting my steps. The couloir and headwall were some of the steeper climbing but I had good snow and easy steps to kick in. A step at a time I would plant my ice axe into the snowpack then start climbing. Each foot placement was cautious as I didn’t want to fall but the route went smooth.

 

Arriving Back on the Summit of Abernathy Peak

2 hours after skiing the North face I arrived back onto the summit where Jessie was waiting for me. From the top we decided to ride back down the southwest gully all the way to our camp site. The snow was nice and soft with us enjoying every turn making our way back. Soon we had arrived back at our camping spot . From our camp spot we decided to take a quick swim in Scatter Lake before making our dinner.

 

With a nearly full moon and a lake near us it was a great camping spot and a beautiful afternoon as we soaked up the views. From camp we took in the sunset over the Cascades before it was time to go to sleep. It was a quiet night and we had the area to ourselves. We had made a great decision to head to the Eastern Cascades.

The next morning we packed our gear up and started hiking down the summer trail. The weather was warm but it was a beautiful day. After 2 hours of hiking down through the switchbacks and semi steep trail we arrived back at the car park and it was time to drive to Washington Pass. The next day I was going to snowboard Robinson Mountain. Everything had gone as smooth as I could have hoped for.

 

In Conclusion

The Abernathy Peak area is a beautiful zone as well as perfect for easy hiking. The south face is a nontechnical route and the view from the summit in addition is quite the panoramic. Both beginner and advanced hikers and skiers can enjoy the area. I would be happy to go back to the area in both summer and winter conditions. The mountains of the Methow valley are a quiet and underappreciated zone and I was happy to finally explore a new zone.

Huge thanks to Jessie for being a great partner. With her humor and kindness it made this a fun camping trip.

Thank you for reading this trip on Abernathy Peak. If you want to see more ski tours within the the Highway 20 corridor check out this link.