One of a handful of alpine rock routes in OR, this is a fairly easy day climb - one short pitch of easy 5th class rock then a scramble to the top. Combine with Three Fingered Jack for an alpine rock weekend. A rappel on the descent is required. Duct taping your boot tops is recommended for the scree descent. If approaching from the west side campgrounds at Big Lake, the maze of trail crossings near the trailhead can be tricky - pay attention on the way in and perhaps mark the right path for the hike out! Enjoy a swim in Big Lake when you are done, and try out the occasionally amazing echo with a yell across the lake at night.

Activity Notes

This will be a one day, car-to-car, climb of Mt. Washington.  We will park, meet and begin near the Big Lake Youth Camp.  The trailhead is approximately 3+ hours from Portland.  There will be an option of camping at Big Lake Sep 26-28.  Contact leaders if interested in camping.

  • Monday PM: Leave Portland and drive to Big Lake where we will camp
  • Tuesday 5:30 AM:  Rise and breakfast
  • Tuesday 6:30 AM:  Leave Big Lake and meet at Big Lake Youth Camp PCT Trailhead 
  • Tuesday 7:00 AM:  Start the climb.  Sunrise 7:00 AM
  • Tuesday PM:  Return to car, debrief, camp at Big Lake or head to Portland.  Sunset 6:51 PM.  May be returning to the cars in the dark. Be prepared for that.

NW Forest Pass or America the Beautiful pass is required to park at the trailhead.

Participants will need to be in good physical shape and comfortable with rock climbing up to 5.4, rappelling, fixed line travel, fair amount of exposure on crumbly rock. It might be a good idea to review fixed line travel and rappelling techniques before this climb if you are feeling rusty on those skills. Climbers not able to keep pace with the group may be turned back at the leader’s discretion.

 We will provide additional information and weather updates as we get closer to the climb.

Other Information
Driving Distance from Portland 140 miles
Driving Time from Portland 2 hours
General Route Info summitpost https://www.summitpost.org/mount-washington-oregon/150570 mountain forecast https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Mount-Washington-3/forecasts/2376 erics base camp trip report http://ericsbasecamp.net/trips/Washington/Washington.htm
Expected Duration Car to car in one day
Relevant Books Oregon High by Jeff Thomas Summit Guide to the Cascade Volcanoes, by Jeff Smoot
Relevant Maps USGS 7.5 minute series, Mt. Washington, and Geo-Graphics, Mt. Washington Google map https://goo.gl/maps/yKYhj5khyFT2
Awards Qualified 16 Major NW Peaks, Seven Oregon Cascades Peaks
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