Boomerang Peak via logging roads

Trip Report

I parked at North Fork gate 11.

I rode my bike down road 32000, after crossing the North Fork Snoqualmie River I went left on road 29000, after riding north for a few miles I went right on road 29100. I followed road 29100 to Calligan Lake where road 29100 takes a sharp left. I went straight and followed the road that runs up Calligan Creek. The road was closed before the first switchback (at 3,320'+) but I got permission to continue. By the time I reached the third switchback corner (at approximately 4,080') the road was consistently covered with snow, so I parked my bike there. Up to this point the road was well-maintained and 90% of it was gradual enough that I didn't have to get off my bike and push it up.

The road switchbacks up the side of Boomerang Peak further than the Lake Philippa shows, Greentrails shows more of the road but I don't think it is accurate. I hiked up the road a bit until I came to the little gully that runs SW down Boomerang Peak, I went up the gully and got onto the little ridge to the right of the gully. I had to do lots of self belay in a mixture of dirt and snow here. The ridge was steep and had lots of little boulder fields, but the brush was OK and I had no difficulties getting to the summit.

The summit had up close views of Twin Peaks (with Glacier Peak peeking over the top), Goat Mountain, Lake Philippa, and logged out forests. Trees blocked my view to the south and west, but on my way up and down I caught some nice views of Paperboy Peak, Moolock Mountain, and Mount Rainier.

I descended straight down the south side of Boomerang Peak, first heading for the pass and then angling to the right toward the road where my bike was parked. It was steep and slippery, but again I did not encounter serious brush or unpassable obstacles.

Comments

This is a decent route if you can drive in to Calligan Lake. Boomerang Peak is not a very attractive destination, especially given my long, uninteresting logging road approach. I was going to go up Paperboy Peak also, but my sore right knee convinced me that I'd rather come back by a better route (probably via Quartz Creek) and do Paperboy Peak another day.

References

• Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest: Road Conditions
• Book: 100 Hikes in Washington's Alpine Lakes (see Bare Mountain driving directions)
• Washington Trails Association: Trip reports (search for 'boomerang')

Driving Directions

North Fork gate 11 (which blocks road 32000) is at a large 4-way intersection 3.5 miles after the North Fork Snoqualmie Road turns into gravel (8.8 miles from I-90). A permit is required to drive past gate 11, see North Fork gate 11 for more.

Maps

• Online map with route drawn on it: Boomerang Peak via logging roads map
• Greentrails map: Mount Si
• USGS quad: Mount Si

Travel Times

• 2008/05/08: 14 minutes driving there from Lower Queen Anne (55') to intersection of I-90 and I-405 (-95')
• 19 minutes driving there from intersection of I-90 and I-405 (-95') to exit 31 (320')
• 20 minutes driving there from exit 31 (320') to North Fork gate 11 on the North Fork Snoqualmie Road (890')
• 1 hour 43 minutes ascending via bike from North Fork gate 11 on the North Fork Snoqualmie Road (890') to Calligan Lake (2,150')
• 1 hour 57 minutes ascending via bike from Calligan Lake (2,150') to where I parked my bike (4,090')
• 1 hour 13 minutes ascending from where I parked my bike (4,090') to Boomerang Peak (5,075')
• 48 minutes descending from Boomerang Peak (5,075') to where I parked my bike (4,100')
• 29 minutes descending via bike from where I parked my bike (4,100') to Calligan Lake (2,165')
• 43 minutes descending via bike from Calligan Lake (2,165') to North Fork gate 11 on the North Fork Snoqualmie Road (935')

Visited

• Boomerang Pk.
• Hancock Forest Managements Snoqualmie Tree Farm
• King County
• Lake Philippa USGS quad
• North Fork Snoqualmie Drainage
• Washington State

Paperboy Peak from side of Boomerang Peak

Hancock's Comb the road west of Lake Hancock

Twin Peaks from Boomerang Peak