Damn, Vesper. The azure-colored Copper Lake sits in a hazy bowl north of Vesper Peak, between Little Chief (at left), and Big Four Mountain, not pictured. u/official_joe. 87% Upvoted. Down on the other side of the pass, you hit another talus slope, this time with a slightly more obvious trail. Strava map can be found here, and the Summitpost page has both a map and a GPX file. Hike the Sunrise Mine Trail 2.7 miles to Headlee Pass at 4,720 ft. From the pass, follow trail skirting around the south flanks of Sperry Peak to the upper Vesper Creek basin between Sperry and Vesper Peaks. I could have planned that better. Copyright © Daniel and Timea Zilcsak. And indeed, on that day, Vesper did not disappoint. Several months later, in 2006, I was again reminded on another trip I the area. ... Copper Lake as seen from the summit of Vesper Peak. It didn’t look nearly as bad going down as it had looking up. Shuksan are the snow covered distant peaks beyond Big Four. Vesper Peak via Ragged Edge. Wikipedia. best top new controversial old q&a. The snow had started in earnest, but once I got to the trees, much had melted out, and that section was essentially just a steep rooty trail. Shuksan are the snow covered distant peaks beyond Big Four. 360 degree view on the top is amazing. I just learned that the peakbagger app can actually download GPX files and will show your position relative to the trail even in airplane mode. I wished I could go swimming, but the damn thing was all ice. Basically, aim for the patch of trees slightly to the right. Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway, Map 111SX The lake was entirely frozen over with just the edges barely melting out, but still beautiful given the alpine backdrop. Change ), Distance: 8 miles (WTA says 9, Strava had me at just under 8 for the peak AND the lake), Elevation: 4100ft gain, 6200ft highest point, Commute from Seattle: 1:45 without traffic, Did I Trip: Probably at least once but no major repercussions. Good, informative report, and what views! Kathleen descending the granite slabs, rocking a sweet new Ultraspire Velocity pack! After a half hour or so I started back down, which as usual went much more quickly than I expected. On September 23, 2019 I started this effort with Tahoe's Rubicon Peak. save hide report. I always joked that I thrive when it’s 90 degrees with 85% humidity. And after all this time, I had been expecting you to have pretty mediocre views. Copper Lake from the Vesper summit... Big Four Mountain is the red one... with Three Fingers and Whitehorse Mountain on the skyline in the center of the photo... Mt. I’m a summer person. "Vesper" glacier is the larger of two small ice bodies located immediately north of Vesper Peak (1 894 m), in the southern part of Washington's North Cascade Range (Fig. They will be ruined. Finally you get back into the woods, where the shade was a welcome relief. We'll get to that. But not my right? View of Copper Lake from just below the summit of Vesper, with Baker lurking in … Nikon D700 1/125s f/16.0 at 34.0mm iso400 full exif. nice report! I had to head upstream a bit where I found a large log I could reach by hopping across some rocks, and the log dumped me off on the opposite bank where I could scramble up and rejoin the trail. Vesper Peak is one of the best hikes in the North Cascades. Below the snow there might or might not be Vesper Lake, What a grand scale - view from right below Vesper's summit, Looking back toward the valley and the craggy peaks all around us. I figured the best way in was to hike in from Headlee Pass and down the Vesper Glacier. Saw a few tents here and on a plateau above. Vesper Peak is one of the best hikes in the North Cascades. WTA website said the hike was 8 miles, but it definitely ended up being a lot more. Rocks are grippy, so not much danger of … It's an easy scramble to Vesper Peak over a wide granite slope. 8-23-14 2 years ago. This is Copper Lake, to the north east of Vesper Peak (photo taken from the summit), View from the rocky summit of Vesper Peak. Atop mountain summits, I rarely want to leave, for one of my favorite things about hiking in the Cascades in the layering of mountains that goes on. There’s a noticeable ridge line (possibly more obvious because of melting snow), and that’s your route to the top. Shit, that’s what I’m going up? Again, aim for the trees. I looked down and saw the itty bitty glacier I had seen from Round Lake – it was there! You can see Sperry Peak, Del Campo Peak, Glacier Peak, Big Four Mountain, Copper Lake, Vesper Lake, Vesper Glacier, Three Fingers, Mount Pilchuck, Mount Rainier and much much more! Rarely is a lake situated so close and steeply below two summits like this–its unique setting gives you remarkably up-close (and straight-up) views of mountainous terrain. The standard route leaves from the Sunrise Mine Trailhead and proceeds through dense old-growth and a few stream crossings. We will shamelessly steal your trip ideas! A great trip in great company. The entire climb was on snow so we got some amazing glissades. I hope to come up here again when the air is clearer (from the eastern Washington fires). Spada Lake is the much larger lake to the southwest. First boulder field/talus slop – aim for the patch of trees on the right. 2 comments. Copper Lake as seen from the summit of Vesper Peak. There are no oceans in the Cascades, so I will have to settle for some glacial lakes. Sperry looked a little daunting for my solo-hike taste, and I figured I’d save it for a day I had company. Copper Lake between Little Chief Mtn (left) and Big Four Mtn (red). The standard route leaves from the Sunrise Mine Trailhead and proceeds through dense old-growth and a few stream crossings. It’s just a scramble, but I wasn’t feeling up to it. And it turned out to be pretty damn doable with some phenomenal views from the top: snowy peaks, a few clouds, a lake, and who knew the back of Big Four was so red? The Vesper Challenge carried on after doing the doing the peak to processing the impact to now, finally, trying to capturing the Complete Vesper Experience in words. The beautiful view from the summit of Vesper Peak. I’ve attempted Vesper three times, summited twice, and at last I think I am done — at least with the peak. Big Four Mountian on the right and Copper Lake on the left. They were wet. From the Vesper summit we are looking beyond Sperry Peak to Glacier Peak and Sloan Peak. Coming in from the Vesper Peak area when there is snow cover I'd guess wouldn't take too long. Above Copper Lake Big Four Mountain rises – and beyond, more peaks and ridges. For hikers the trail ends here. Oh wait – the outlet stream! Baker and Mt. Copper Lake is the lake directly to the west of Vesper Peak. 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