• USGS Snoqualmie Pass (7.5 min.), 1989
• USGS Lost Lake (7.5 min.), 1989
• USGS Stampede Pass (7.5 min.), 1989
• DeLorme Washington Atlas and Gazeteer

Snoqualmie Pass to Windy Pass (map)

From Snoqualmie Summit climb the ski area slopes to Beaver Lake (3440+, set altimeter here). Ski around the lake and locate the Crest Trail in the woods beyond. The trail enters the woods on the left and begins a gradual descent to the south. The trail doesn't go quite to Lodge Lake (3125 ft) but you can see the lake through the trees. When you are near the lake, you can take a short side trip to it to visit the original start of the race (30-45 minute way-point).

From the level of the lake, the Crest Trail goes south, initially following a bench, then traversing a steep forested slope. The level trail stays in the woods and can be hard to follow when the snowpack is deep. When there is a good snowpack, it is best to stay a little above the trail at the base of open slopes. The trail eventually turns into a narrow road before crossing beneath power lines above the old Snoqualmie Tunnel. Ascend this road until it meets the Mount Catherine Loop cross-country ski trail below Rockdale Lake.

A simpler but less historic start, which avoids the trail-breaking and rugged travel of the Lodge Lake route, follows groomed Alpine and Nordic ski runs through the Snoqualmie Summit ski area to Rockdale Lake. From Snoqualmie Summit, ascend toward the south edge of the Summit West ski area and find a road that switches back next to the woods at about 3500 feet elevation, just east of and below the Thunderbird summit lodge. Follow this "crossover road" to the Cascade crest and continue along the crest past the Triple-60 and Central Express chairlifts to the saddle just north of the Silver Fir chairlift. Here find the entry to the Snoqualmie Summit Nordic Trail system ("Silver Streak" trail). Take the first right fork of the nordic trail and descend to "Grand Junction," the road intersection at the pass between Rockdale and Hyak Lakes. Take the most northerly of the roads that leaves the west side of the pass ("Ripsaw" trail). This is part of the Mount Catherine Loop cross-country ski trail.

Regardless of how you got here, either via Lodge Lake or the Snoqualmie Summit ski area, ski the cross-country trail road west (downhill) then south (uphill) to the Ollalie Meadow ("Windy Pass") area (2-1/4 hr).

Windy Pass to Mirror Lake (map)

From the Windy Pass vicinity, angle upward (SW) and enter the woods on the east flank of Silver Peak. About 1/4 mile into the woods there are two clearings each a few hundred feet high. Cross the second, larger clearing around mid-height (4000 feet). That's where the Crest Trail goes. This is a critical point, because if you miss the trail, the traverse of Silver Peak is steep and unpleasant. The trail climbs gradually through the woods to about 4300 feet on the southeast flank of Silver Peak. The way is occasionally marked by orange tin shingles placed high on trees, relics of the original Mountaineers route in the 1930s. Around Tinkham Peak, when in doubt, stay high and follow benches. Reach Tinkham Pass northeast of Tinkham Peak (est 4500, 3-1/2 hr). This is the high point of the route and about half way in terms of time. (My way-point times assume a 15 minute break here or at Mirror Lake.) From the pass, descend slightly and work hard right (south) toward Mirror Lake (4195 ft).

Bailout option: Between Windy Pass and Mirror Lake, the easiest bailout is to ski back to Windy Pass then follow the groomed cross-country ski trail (Cold Creek road) south of Mt Catherine to Hyak. Most of the way is downhill, but the last 1-1/2 mile is gently uphill (can be skated).

Mirror Lake to Stirrup Creek (map)

Ski across Mirror Lake to its outlet and descend east of the outlet stream. Reach the road below at about 4000 feet. Follow this road east until it switches back right (SSW), then left (east) again around 3840+. Leave the road at this leftward bend, cross the adjacent stream channel on your right, then work through regrowth in a southerly direction to another road at about 3750 feet. Follow this road east a short way until you spot a reasonable way to Twilight Lake. Work through regrowth to the lake. (As the clearcut gets more overgrown, it may become better to follow the Crest Trail through this section. I haven't tried this.)

From the east end of Twilight Lake, bear SSE up thick regrowth (soon improves) and continue uphill (south) to the main Meadow Creek road (USFS 5483) near the 4200-foot gravel pit marked on the map (4-1/2 hr). Alternatively, locate the Crest Trail south of the lake (or the roughly parallel road to its west) and follow it uphill, eventually leaving the trail or road to reach the gravel pit and road 5483. This may be better with low snow cover or as the clearcut becomes more overgrown. I haven't tried this.

Bailout option: Between Mirror Lake and USFS road 5483, the easiest bailout is to ski to Yakima Pass, then follow roads east around the north side of Lost Lake. Continue down USFS road 5480 to Keechelus Lake near Roaring Creek. Follow the long flat road to Crystal Springs Sno-Park on I-90.

From the 4200-foot gravel pit, glide USFS road 5483 southeast down Meadow Creek valley to USFS road 5484 at Stirrup Creek (est 3100 feet, set altimeter here). (Ignore USFS road 5483-118, which goes to Meadow Pass.)

Stirrup Creek to Baldy Pass (map)

Follow road 5484, taking the left branch at 3200 feet. Follow this road into the Dandy Creek drainage. Take a right branch at est. 3850 feet. Continue a gradual ascent of the road to 4000 feet. The Crest Trail crosses the road here. Cut left and climb gradually to the bed of Dandy Creek, which can be followed to Baldy Pass, 4120+ (between Dandy and Sunday Creeks, marked "King-Kittitas" on the map, 6-1/2 hr).

Bailout option: While in the Meadow Creek drainage, the easiest bailout is to ski down the main Meadow Creek road (USFS 5483) to the south tip of Keechelus Lake (all downhill) then follow the flat roads (USFS 5480 and 54) to Crystal Springs Sno-Park on I-90.

Baldy Pass to Meany Lodge (map)

Once at the Baldy Pass pass road, take it left (north) a short way, then take the first road going right (east) along the county line. In clear weather, there's a nice view of Lake Keechelus and the Snoqualmie Pass area from here. In about 1/4 mile take an obscure road branching right at about 4260 feet. This branch is shown on the map, just south of a 4360+ foot knob on the divide. If you miss the road, you can just ski through the open clearcut southeast along the Sunday-Mosquito Creek divide (the Pacific Crest Trail route). The road (and trail) descends just east of the divide to the edge of a clearcut. The trail enters the woods, turns left (SE) and follows the divide for about 1/3 mile. Then it drops off the divide to the south and descends through the woods to the Stampede Pass road just west of the pass notch (7 hr).

Bailout option: A final bailout is to exit directly from Stampede Pass by following USFS road 54 east to Crystal Springs Sno-Park on I-90.

From Stampede Pass, go right (SW) on the road, then take the first left branch and follow it around the east side of Lizard Lake. Just south of the lake, take a left branch going uphill. The road crosses perpendicularly under buzzing transmission lines and re-enters the trees. Stay left at a road branch, eventually passing a clearing with a public restroom. Continue climbing toward the Stampede Pass weather station at point 3963 feet.

Just north of the weather station a set of smaller power lines (on wooden poles) heads northeast. Follow this power line corridor downhill toward (but not quite to) point 3626 feet. Here you have two choices: 1) Continue down the power lines to the road at 3400 feet. 2) Take a somewhat obscure road south, descending to meet the lower road near the creek drainage marked "Stampede" on the map. Follow the lower road to the transmission lines that climb from the railroad south of Martin. Follow this corridor northeast. At the point where the transmission lines drop abruptly toward the valley, drop down a bit, then cut left into the trees, where you'll find the top of the Meany rope tows. Meany Lodge is about 700 feet down in the woods left of the transmission lines (8 hr). The lodge is marked on the USGS map left of the word "Martin."

If you time it right, you can get a tow behind the Mountaineers' snowcat to the Crystal Springs Sno-Park on I-90. (The snowcat leaves around 4:30 pm Saturday, 3:30 pm Sunday.) If you don't time it right, you'll have to ski an additional three miles of road back to the highway.

Time required

My first three trips (solo or with a friend, using the historic start) required about 8 to 8-1/2 hours from the Snoqualmie Summit parking lot to Meany Lodge, with only one 10-15 minute lunch break. A 14-person party organized by The Mountaineers (February 2006, using the modern start) required 12 hours from Snoqualmie Lodge to Meany Lodge. The course record from Lodge Lake to Meany in 1936 was 4 hours, 37 minutes!

Equipment notes

Thin skins, wax, or no-wax skis are advised for skiing on roads and other low angled terrain. However, you'll probably want full width skins for the climbs from Ollalie Meadows to Tinkham Pass and from Yakima Pass to Road 5483. Equipment should be chosen for touring comfort rather than downhill performance, but be aware that some steepish slopes with tight trees will be encountered and snow conditions may be difficult.

Beyond Mirror Lake, all bailout options require considerable flat road skiing. If you carry a short length of rope, you may be able to hitch a tow behind a snowmobile.