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WEST FACE | ARROWHEAD MOUNTAIN | STEVENS PASS | WASHINGTON | UNITED STATES

WEST FACE
WEST FACE
Date Created: 03/10/2010
Last Updated: 03/10/2010
Ranking:Good
Skiable Vert:3130 ft
Climbing Vert:3130 ft
Top Elevation:6030 ft
Trailhead Elevation:2900 ft
Ascent Mileage:2.25
AVG Ascent Time:4 hours
Ascent Type:Skin
Trees:Nicely Spaced
Slope Aspect:West
Steepest Section:25-35 Degrees
Slope Type:Chute
Exit:Clean
First Descent:
Nearest Town:Leavenworth, WA
AVG Snowfall:
Snowpack:

Highlights

A logging road provides reliably good travel through the lower elevations, with great skiing above 4500 in a replanted clearcut in the bowl between the two summits of Arrowhead and its sister summit to the SW. Once above 4500 the skiing is generally good with North and West facing slopes. From the summit of Arrowhead you can see the Chiwaukums, Mt. Rainier, Glacier Peak, and you get a great view of the Rock-Howard-Tour. One of the more popular tours in the area as you can manage most of the avy hazard with better forecasting ability required on the final slopes to the summit.

Ascent

Drive 29 miles West of Leavenworth and park near the maintenance shed for the Cascade Tunnel. This is just East of where US Hwy. 2 divides into separate roads. Park here, making sure to be West of the big pullout as this is where plows turn around. Cross US hwy 2, and join the gated logging road headed East. Follow this road up to around 4500' where you are directly below a clearcut. Skin up the clearcut into the tight trees at the top. From here you trend climbers left until you gain the open West facing slopes that lead to the summit of Arrowhead Mountain at 6030. You need decent stability to ski these upper slopes.

Descent

The best skiing is provided by the chutes descending West facing slopes from the summit or Arrowhead. On the descent you should trend skiers right for the best line to get you back into the clearcut. There is a large cliff that you cut under to ski direct via mixed trees into the clearcut.

Access/Permits

Some of this is on commercial timber land, some on USFS land. No parking pass is needed nor are any permits.

Photos

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Johnrace: February 22, 2010 Uphill: 3,030 ft. | Downhill: 3,030 ft.

We had a decent ski despite the low snow on the approach. There was a ton of surface hoar that extended even up onto the summit ridge. A bit of a crust had formed in spots overnight and we were able...[view]
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