Koppen Mountain, Way Creek & Malcolm Mountain — Tuesday, Jul. 8, 2003

Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway

Malcolm Mtn features great views of the Teanaway area and a summit you likely will have to yourself that includes a bronze plaque dedicated to the Midnight Tenor of Malcolm Mtn. This report will tell you how to find the user trail that takes you very close to the summit. From the end of the Jungle Creek road hike north on the Way Creek trail. The first 800 feet of gain or so is a steep jeep road and then the real trail begins. At about 4,800 the trail crosses a side ridge. From here there is a wonderful view of Malcolm Mtn. Also from here look to the right of Malcolm a bit and you will see the Koppen Mtn trail traversing a steep slope. Not far beyond here is a trail junction. The Way Creek trail ends. The Jungle Creek trail heads east and the Koppen Mtn trail heads north. The trail signs here seem a bit confusing. Look around here so you do not try accidentally try to hike out on the Jungle Creek trail. Continue north on the Koppen Mtn trail until the saddle just past point 4,938 on the Teanaway Butte quad. (For you gps users - 10 655911E 5248474N, Datum = NAD27) This saddle has a nice log where we ate lunch but trees block the views. The trail now appears to split. You take the user trail that continues straight ahead and climbs. (The somewhat fainter fork traversing to the right is the Koppen Mtn trail. It traverses a steep east facing slope and then regains the ridge. This portion of the Koppen Mtn trail is more of an easy scramble than a trail hike.) From the saddle, follow the trail uphill. Just before you leave the woods and enter an open scree area, look for a trail traversing left on a gradual climb. Follow that trail to the top of the ridge northeast of the summit. (10 655541E 5248522N, Datum = NAD27) Note - this would be an easy turn to miss on your hike out. At this ridge top turn left and follow the trail. After you pass a few hunter camps and a springy area, you arrive on top of a different ridge due north of the summit. Here there are more hunter camps. Turn left and follow the trail south toward the summit. Near the summit the faint trail disappears and the terrain becomes steeper, so we'll call the last bit an easy scramble. Caution - This would not be a good hike to do in hunting season! The round trip is about 8 miles and around 2,500 total elevation gain. The hike out includes some (groan) uphill parts. Bugs were minimal.