Vesper Peak — Thursday, Jun. 19, 2025

Fun day! Got to TH at 7:30 with two cars in the parking lot. The road was a little washed out but Priusable. Left at 18:00, took 10.5 hours to go up and down.

Approach is was pretty mellow. Immediately some easy stream crossings. Crossing the Stillaguamish was more challenging but there were good rocks to hop. Then the climb opens up to the boulder field as you go up to Headlee. All snow free at this point.

At the bottom of Headlee, some patches of snow began around 3800 feet. Trail is largely melted out, though. We put on mountaineering boots and traction thinking the snow would continue to the summit, but took them off at the top of Headlee since the traversal across the talus field was melted out.

Around Lake Elan after crossing another easy stream, traction back on and it’s a straightforward march up snow to the top. There is a section going through trees where we had to be careful not to punch through the snow, but otherwise was easy.

Socked in summit, then descended down in very plunge steppable snow. We followed the snow line past the lake and ended up farther down the stream which made for a more difficult but manageable crossing. Just keep in mind not to get sucked into skier’s right on the descent.

Then a straightforward descent down Headlee, through the woods, and back to the car. Boulder fields suck for descent! But worth it for a super beautiful day out there!