Mt. Daniel Climb | Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Mt. Daniel is a fun introductory climb for people looking to get into glacier mountaineering. The mountain is approached from the Cle Elum side (southeast) of the peak with a camp somewhere near Peggy's Pond. Most parties take 2 days to complete the route. If combined with basic training in the use of ice axes and crampons and crevasse rescue, this works well as a 3-day program. On most trips we climb both the Middle and East Peaks.

Mt. Daniel and its neighbor Mt. Hinman (7492') are the two impressive mountains that can be seen to the south from Stevens Pass ski area. Both remain snow covered until well into the summer and offer an ideal environment for beginning climbers to develop their snow climbing and glacier travel skills on an easily accessible glaciated peak. For groups of 3 or more climbers looking for a cost effective way to build their glacier climbing skills with a guide, our 3-day program is good value.

Itinerary

All climbs meet in Cle Elum, WA and then drive to the trailhead just past Fish Lake. From here we hike about 5.5 miles to our base camp. From this camp we conduct basic training. On 2-days climbs we hike out following the climb, on 3-day climbs we place a higher camp on day-2 several hours above Peggy's Pond.

Qualifications

No previous climbing experience required. Participants should be in very good physical condition and will need to carry a backpack weighing between 30 and 40lbs. The weight of your pack will vary with the quality of your overnight gear.

Additional Notes

This climb is offered only as a custom program - call to schedule. Under rules laid out by the US Forest Service, guided climbs in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness must occur Monday-Friday, group size is limited to 4 persons including guides.