Trip type: backcountry ski
Elevation gain: approx. 1,745 feet (approx 531 meters)
Car-to-car time: 5 hours 12 minutes
USGS Quad: Blewett Pass
In Area: US 97 Corridor
Trip Report
Carla and I parked at the Swauk Pass (new Blewett Pass) sno park and headed south up road 9716. We took the cross country ski trail that forks off of 9716 and runs along the east side of Diamond Head. We left the trail and headed west up the first clear slope the trail crosses, this slope led us to the NE corner of Diamond Head.
We took one run down the corn snow (I learned a couple new ways to fall), then booted up to the north slopes of Diamond Head. We skied down the north slopes of Diamond Head until the snow ran out, then descended the north ridge until it met the trail we ascended on.
References
- Winter guide book: 100 Classic Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes
- Winter guide book: Snowshoe Routes - Washington
Travel Times
Car-to-car time: 5 hours 12 minutes- 2 hours 27 minutes ascending from Swauk Pass sno park (4,090') to top of Diamond Head (5,835')
- 2 hours 45 minutes descending from top of Diamond Head (5,835') to Swauk Pass sno park
- 1 hour 40 minutes driving back from Swauk Pass sno park to Capitol Hill
Visited
Carla skiing up the trail to Diamond Head
Lunch on the north ridge of Diamond Head