Hannegan Meadows (Ruth Mountain)

Burgdorfer suggests in his 100 Classic Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes of Washington that Ruth Mountain “is a magnificent touring objective.” I’ve thought so for years since I first found my way into the Hannegan and Chillawack Valleys. Yet, Burgdorfer continues, “This tour should be attempted …only in ideal conditions.” While we did have the stable snowpack he refers to as ideal conditions, this weekend was far from ideal weather wise.

Still, we’d planned on it. I was hopeful and HOPE is a word I could use for a mountain sharing the same name as my mother who has recently finished her radiation treatments for breast cancer.

The road was clear to just a few hundred yards from the trailhead where a one deepish patch exists. We were surprised by the considerable melt-out of the trail since these guys posted their TR. With glacier travel gear, avy gear, and overnight gear, it was the heaviest load I’d carried yet this season. Needless to say, I was a bit miffed that I had to carry my skis too. Skinning was far from practical until the last 1000 feet to the pass. Precipitation was on again off again all morning sprinkling seasonal flora with diamond droplets on the bursting buds. Lower elevation trillium showed their nodding heads, avalanche lilies pushed up in fine form, and bleeding hearts (leaves and flowers) were just beginning to expand (as hearts do). Dog toothed violets were a bright spot to the gloom of the fog and rain.

We were slow going in the intermittent glop. Snow was so saturated that even when we started skinning we frequently had to kick steps. Small sun cups were pock-marked with recent rains. Visibility was seriously limited; we could hardly make out the sky from the snow. Ruth was elusive. Hannegan Pass became clear for a split second and we headed up that way to make camp. These two middle school teachers were asleep before 8:30 with plans to look for the peak at first light.

By 5:30 AM I had already heard two rain storms pound the walls of the tent. I could hardly see the trees nearby when I peaked out for a look. Thus, we safely canceled plans for a summit push. Over breakfast the sky brightened and Sean’s altimeter barometer spiked up drastically. Twenty minutes later we were socked in again, barometer falling.

We took to a few nearby (and visible) ridges for the skiing we came for. Turns were smooth and juicy. Above Hannegan meadows we ran a line that hardly had to beg to be yo-yo’ed. We dropped our loads in the meadows below and skinned up a few hundred feet for some super fine spring turns.

Again, any day in the mountains is a good day. JOM=25% over the 5+ miles.

Ruth Mountain: another time, Mom.