Mount Stuart

Washington Hiking

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Distance: 6 miles (Cascadian Couloir Route)
Elevation Gain: Over 8,000 feet
Summit Elevation: 9,415 feet
Access: Good Gravel

Mount Stuart is a non-volcanic peak but has the same allure to many Washington residents as the bigger Volcanoes do. Stuart rises fairly high above its neighbors and has an extremely astatically pleasing last 1,000 feet. Stuart is the highest peak in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness as well as a Ultra Prominence Peak. Stuart is also the single greatest mass of exposed granite in the United States. There are many routes up but I will only be describing the class 3, standard basic route.

From I-90 near Cle Elum, take the Wenatchee exit 85 and follow the signs to Wenatchee on State Route 970. Drive about 7 miles and turn left on the Teanaway River Road. Drive 13 miles to a fork. Take the right fork (Road #9737) until it ends at the trailhead in approximately 9 miles. "North Fork Teanaway" signs for 23 miles to the road-end at the Esmerelda Basin Trailhead parking lot.

Follow trail #1394 for a short distance to the junction with the Ingalls Lake Trail #1390, take a right. Follow it to the intersection with the Long's Pass Trail #1229 for another right that climbs to Long's Pass at 6,300 feet. From the pass, descend on switchbacks to a basin at 4800' where there is some campsites (before you reach the Ingall's Creek Trail). Once at the Ingall's Creek Trail, go right and hike down the valley for about 1/2 mile to a clearing. Head up off trail through a boulder field towards the obvious Couloir. The Couloir opens up to talus slopes. Ascend to a snow field below the false summit. Climb the snowfield or skirt it to the left. A final ridge traverse of class 3 and you are there. Early season climbers will need ice axe and crampon skills. Later in summer, I've seen boy scouts and even dogs make it to the summit.

Cascadian Couloir Route:

Access:

Ultra 57 Peaks

Mount Stuart and Sherpa Peak from the Earl Peak area

Mount Stuart from Colchuck Peak

Mount Stuart from Ingalls Lake

Mount Stuart from Cle-Elum rest stop on I-90

I did not have a camera when I went up so I don't have pictures of the route.

This route can be climbed in one long day if you are in shape. It was exhausting but that's how I did it. A 2-3 day trip could be made by doing a loop trip returning via Ingalls Pass and Lake (I showed it on the map below).

Mount Stuart from Jolly Mountain

Mount Stuart from Colchuck Mountain

Mount Stuart from Miller Peak area

Mount Stuart from Diamond Head

August 11, 1916: "Mt. Stuart, located near the line between Chelan and Kittitas counties, near the center of the Wenatchee National forest on a North and south line, about 20 miles distant from Leavenworth, would make an ideal fire lookout station. The mountain is 9,470 feet high and from its summit one gets a view of the entire forest, and then some. Its use for the purpose of a lookout has been under consideration for some time by the department. To determine the feasibility of the scheme the following gentlemen left here Wednesday morning for the summit of Mt. Stuart, well equipped with everything to make the trip: Allen S. Peck, Forest Inspector, Washington, D.C.; C.H. Flory, Assistant District Forester, Portland, Ore.; M.L. Merritt, Improvement Work, Portland; and A.H. Sylvester, Forest Supervisor, Leavenworth. The party proceeded from here up the Blewett road to the mouth of Nigger creek. From there they will follow the valley of that creek, the head of which is not far from Mt. Stuart, which is distant from Leavenworth about 20 miles on an airline in a southwesterly direction. Mrs. A.H. Sylvester and her friend Miss Olive Raftree, from Chicago, will accompany the party as far as the lower reaches of Nigger creek, where they will remain for a day or two until the men of the party return and will come back to Leavenworth by way of Jack creek and the Icicle river." (The Leavenworth Echo)

Fire Lookout History: Considered

Former Lookouts