Let's suffer for the reward — Vesper Peak! 🏔️💨

This Sunday we're heading out to the Mountain Loop Highway for Vesper Peak — a serious alpine day with granite slabs, boulder fields, a summit scramble, and huge North Cascades views. It's a real objective for well-prepared hikers and the payoff at the top is one of the best in the region. 🥾

📍 Hike Details (from AllTrails)
Trail: Vesper Peak Trail
Distance: ~6.9 miles
Elevation Gain: ~4,061 ft
Route Type: Out & back
Estimated time: 6.5–8 hours of hiking
Pass required: Yes — Northwest Forest Pass / America the Beautiful Pass for the trailhead.

⚠️ Trail Notes:

• Scramble: The route finishes with rock scrambling over talus and cairn navigation to the 6,214-ft summit.
• Little shade: Most of the upper route is open granite and boulder fields. Sun protection is a must.
• Mud & ice: Snowfields or icy patches are possible — traction (microspikes) may be needed.
• Road: The road to Sunrise Mine trailhead has a big dip/divot near the end that's hard on low-clearance cars. Carpooling in higher-clearance vehicles.
• Crowds: Not crowded — much quieter than the I-90 corridor hikes.
• Cell service: Spotty at best. Download your offline map before we leave!

🚗 Schedule & Meeting (Sunday)

• 6:30 AM – Meet at Green Lake Park & Ride (NE 65th St & I-5, Seattle)
• 6:45 AM – Carpool departs promptly
• ~7:15 AM – Pit stop at Safeway – 717 WA-9, Lake Stevens, WA 98258 (bathrooms / snacks / coffee / supplies)
• ~8:45 AM – Arrive at Sunrise Mine trailhead
• ~9:00 AM – Start hiking 🥾
• ~4:30–5:30 PM – Back to cars
• ~7:00–8:00 PM – Estimated return to Green Lake P&R

🎒 What to Bring

• ✅ Hiking boots (sturdy, good traction — critical for slabs and talus)
• ✅ Trekking poles (strongly recommended for the descent)
• ✅ Microspikes/traction (in case of ice/snow patches)
• ✅ 2-3+ liters of water
• ✅ Lunch + snacks
• ✅ Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses (very exposed at the top)
• ✅ Layers (can be windy and cool at the summit)
• ✅ Download offline map (AllTrails recommended — limited cell service)
• ✅ Northwest Forest Pass / America the Beautiful Pass
• ✅ Change of shoes/clothes for post-hike comfort
• ✅ Headlamp (just in case we're slower than expected)

💰 Cost Sharing
$20 per person (based on 4 people per car) to cover gas and vehicle wear & tear. Cash or Venmo.

⚠️ Disclaimer
This is a group-organized hike, NOT a guided tour. The host is not a professional guide, trip leader, or outdoor expert. They are simply organizing a gathering of fellow hikers and are participating themselves. You are solely responsible for your own safety, preparedness, and well-being throughout the entire event. This is a strenuous, exposed alpine route — please only join if you're comfortable with scrambling, steep terrain, and a long day out.