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Pond Peak WA

 Pond Peak - 1520M 

60M Prominence

49.916662 -124.15392

Jan 12, 2025

644M Elevation Gain

5H 13M C2C

The first peak of the year goes to Pond Peak. This relatively easy access peak is another one of those peaks I should have been up long long ago, but there was no motivation or desire to go up until today. After my ski touring plans got cancelled and my mom's invite to go to the Knuckleheads still stood, I made the easy decision to get out in the snow rather than sitting on the couch for another weekend. The Day took a fairly late start. I got picked up at 7:30 and we parked the truck at 8:40 and got going. the snow started immediately, and after only a few minutes of backpacking my skis, I skinned up. The first third of the Trail is just a road, in the summertime you can drive to the Cabin in a 4x4, and in the winter time snow machines are frequently heading up to the cabin. Near the end of the road there is a small turn off which cuts through the forest for a slightly more scenic route to the cabin. Once at the cabin the crew for the day ( me, my mom, sister, and my mom's friend) took a snack break. We then split up and I Headed off to the summit at my own pace and left the other three behind. I had hopes to maybe keep going past Pond peak and go up to Moose Knuckle if I made good enough time. The final little push to the summit was a bit too steep for my uphill touring level. I was starting to slide backwards and there was not enough space to practice effective kick turns. For the last few meters I had to boot pack my way up. After 2 hours and 20 minutes I had made it to the summit, and the views were spectacular. The snow was quite fantastic for skiing, but it was getting heavier and heavier by the minute. I had a look at the ridge that connects Pond Peak to the Moose Knuckle, but decided that it was quite corniced, lacking of snow, and basically not skiable. Since I arrived at the Summit before the rest of the crew, I had a quick ski run, and then met everyone back up at the summit for a snack break and to take the views in. On the way back I enjoyed some lofty powder runs, the terrain does not lend to the best skiing, but if you stick to the trail there is more then enough space to navigate the trees and there are a few steeper sections to enjoy. The way down took just as long as the ascent, due to waiting for the snowshoers occasionally.


Part way between the cabin and Pond Peak, quad tracks












From the summit, looking at Big Knuckle (center) and Moose knuckle (left)


















The corniced ridge mentioned






My sister, Mom, and I on the summit. Walt ridge in near background and Diadem to the left of
my sister













Route




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