Chopaka Mountain — Sunday, Jun. 5, 2016

North Cascades > Pasayten

A lovely day hike to the high country while the Okanogan Valley was experiencing 100+ degree weather... We drove from Tonasket (about 32 miles) via Loomis, and up Toats Coulee and the 9 Mile Road to Cold Spring TH. From the trailhead we hiked north on the old road and just after the first culvert (about 1/2 mile in from the TH) turned off to the right and began bush-whacking through mostly open grass and rock hillsides (no trail after the first hundred or so feet) to join the SW Ridge of Chopaka. The views were spectacular (especially to the west where besides the excellent views of Windy Peak and Horseshoe Mtn, we could see Mt. Remmel and the tip of Cathedral Pk in the distance), and there were enough scattered snow fields remaining to give the dogs (Luna the Lab and Pema the Pug) some welcome refreshment. Sooner than we expected (less than 2 hours from TH) we were on the summit enjoying the cool breeze and magnificent 360 degree panorama. We descend to the north to the col between Chopaka and Joe MiIlls (which I did last year and would recommend as a nice additional hour long side trip for someone wanting to stay in the high country longer, but Joe Mills also has to be the most boring summit I've ever ascended...from the col it is also possible to climb Hurley Peak to the NE which looks quite a bit more interesting, but also further). From the col we descended the steep grassy slope due west following the small creek (on the south side at first then north side near the bottom), until we rejoined the main trail/old road. From there it was about 1.5 miles south back to the TH. Overall a 4 hour trip, with just 3 of it spent on the move (I'd estimate it was 6 miles with about 1,500' vertical gained.), and never once did the Pug get overheated!