Seattle Outdoor Adventurers (SOA)

Join the waitlist and answer the questions to be added to the confirmed team.

You must be in excellent shape. We will be moving fast with few breaks. We will travel on steep snow slopes with some exposure. Some scrambling skills and snow travel experience required.

Conditions permitting. Destination may change depending on conditions and access factors. Will check the forecast closer to the day of the event.

Heavy snow is expected to fall on the upper slopes of Snoqualmie Mountain.

Come prepared to work as a team and help with breaking trail, navigation, and group decisions.

Snoqualmie Mountain:
Snoqualmie Mountain is the tallest peak in the immediate vicinity of Snoqualmie Pass. A steep climbers' route up the open southwest face offers spectacular views of numerous nearby peaks: Guye, Chair, Kaleetan, Lundin, Kendall, and Red Mountain are just a few of the closest. The northern side of Snoqualmie drops off steeply, overlooking tarns that keep snow even into late summer. A commanding view of Snow Lake adds to the reward.

About the hike:
Find the trail about 50 feet to the right (south) of the Snow Lake trailhead. The trail goes to the base of Snoqualmie Mountain and Guye Peak. Follow the trail staying left at all intersections until reaching the basin. Then go left to gain the ridge and follow the ridge to the summit.

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Snoqualmie Mountain Trail:
After one mile you will come to a junction, the right fork leads to Guye Peak and Cave Ridge while the main trail continues to the left. After another third mile, the trail crosses a creek near the waterfall. A quarter mile from the waterfall the path ascends an open slope (Cave Ridge) and climbs in switchbacks for another mile to the summit. At this point the views to south become impressive.

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Plan:
• Meet at Eastgate Park and Ride at 6:30
• Coordinate carpooling and leave to Alpental at 6:40
• Arrive at Alpental around :30
• Boots on the trail around 7:40
• Back at Eastage Park and Ride around 6:30pm

Gear:
Microspikes, ice ax, gaiters, "alpine snowshoes with the heel elevators", food and water for a long day, 10 essentials, great attitude, and a bright smile.

Stats:
• Snoqualmie mountain- highest point: 6278 feet
• 3200 feet gain to Snoqualmie
• Under 6 miles round trip

Carpooling:
Highly recommended due to restrictions at Alpental.
We will coordinate before we leave to the TH.

Directions to trailhead:
I-90 to exit 53 Snoqualmie Pass. Left at stop sign towards Alpental parking lot. Park by the covered bridge at the ski area. Walk towards the Snow Lake trailhead. 50 feet south of Snow Lakes trailhead is the trail leading up to the Snoqualmie Mountain / Guye Peak trail.

Let's go climbing every Thursday evening! We will meet at Edgeworks Bellevue at 5:30 pm. All levels of experience are welcome. But you should know how to top rope belay.

The event is scheduled for 5:30-7:30pm but feel free to stay longer.

How to Find Us
We will meet in the area with tables in front the bouldering section by 5:30pm. Also, if you post a description of what you'll be wearing, that'll help to find each others. Identifying yourself as a meetup member can also help others find us.

Link to the gym website: https://edgeworksclimbing.com/bellevue/

"As a rec user, you should not be going into avalanche terrain if you have not trained with your beacon; it just seems unacceptable to me" - Chrissie Oken, AAI Instructor

I mean, that's a pretty fair point. So let's get that sorted.

Join me for some practice with avalanche rescue techniques. If you are like me, it's been a bit since your AIARE 1 and your skills have likely gotten a bit rusty, so let's shake some of that rust off. Location is still TBD right now, but the basic plan:

• Meet up at the PNR nearest our chosen location (for right now setting Eastgate, but subject to change)
• Head out to the snow and move til we find a good spot.
• Refresh our skills on our beacons; how they work, how to search, probing, digging, etc
• Drill time! Depending on group size, plan is to split into groups and run a scenario where each team has a chance to bury and each team has a chance to find. It will be timed, and the loser buys the winner a round at the debrief!
• Head back to town and debrief; what went well, what went poorly, what we can do better next time.

Skiers, splitters, and shoers are all welcome. Previous AIARE or similar experience is a plus, but if not you can always come along and learn something (bear in mind this is NOT a professional course led by a professional instructor). Everyone will be waitlisted to start to make sure you have answered the questions at the bottom; don't skip the description or you won't be allowed in.

What you need:

• 10 Essentials (always)
• Some method of moving on snow (skis, splitboard, snowshoes, whatevs)
• Beacon/Probe/Shovel (check your beacon before you meetup)
• Avy backpack (normal backpacks are not acceptable, your safety gear needs its own spot and needs to be lightning-fast accessible)
• A big coat (lots of standing around in less-than-ideal temps/conditions, so plan accordingly)

I could use some help finding:

• Extra beacon- I have 2 extra, but the more the better; let's get that multi-burial scenario on the table.
• Big backpacks or something equivalent to bury with the beacon; your summer backpacking pack works perfectly, and you can pack your smaller avy pack inside for the hike in

I want to help SOA develop a culture of safety, and that starts with practicing the skills we need to be successful out there. Let's get this one done.