In addition to the stated desireable climbing season of July-October, Dragontail is also one of the more reasonable large backcountry peaks to be climbed in the early season. Early season starts whenever the Mountaineer Creek Road opens to the Stuart Lake Trailhead, usually mid-April (call Leavanworth Ranger Station). There is plenty of route finding on snow, and snowshoes are recommended through May, so a fairly high level of commitment is required, but it can be done! as long as the avy danger is low and the snow is firm.
andrew0nline - Oct 21, 2018 9:20 am - Hasn't voted
Incorrect dates for permit season
Hello,
Excellent page - very helpful. However I believe that the dates where overnight permits are required are incorrect. The page states that permit season ends on October 15th. However the official USDA.gov page states that permit season ends in Oct 31. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/cs/recarea?ss=110308&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110240000000000&pnavid=null&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&recid=58717&ttype=recarea&pname=Colchuck%20Lake%20Trail%20
Thanks for the excellent page! By the end of August last year there was an unavoidable swath of smooth ice across the snowfield on the standard route. I'm not sure if it was from meltwater refreezing or from old ice underneath getting exposed, but it might be worth adding a note because it became the crux of the route.
meganerd - May 12, 2002 10:05 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentIn addition to the stated desireable climbing season of July-October, Dragontail is also one of the more reasonable large backcountry peaks to be climbed in the early season. Early season starts whenever the Mountaineer Creek Road opens to the Stuart Lake Trailhead, usually mid-April (call Leavanworth Ranger Station). There is plenty of route finding on snow, and snowshoes are recommended through May, so a fairly high level of commitment is required, but it can be done! as long as the avy danger is low and the snow is firm.
andrew0nline - Oct 21, 2018 9:20 am - Hasn't voted
Incorrect dates for permit seasonHello,
Excellent page - very helpful. However I believe that the dates where overnight permits are required are incorrect. The page states that permit season ends on October 15th. However the official USDA.gov page states that permit season ends in Oct 31. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/cs/recarea?ss=110308&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110240000000000&pnavid=null&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&recid=58717&ttype=recarea&pname=Colchuck%20Lake%20Trail%20
Thanks,
Andrew
Matt Lemke - Dec 25, 2018 6:57 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Incorrect dates for permit seasonOh god...they extended it? That's a shame. Page edited to reflect that. Thanks
Homestarhiker - Feb 14, 2021 4:00 pm - Voted 10/10
Ice on the SnowfieldThanks for the excellent page! By the end of August last year there was an unavoidable swath of smooth ice across the snowfield on the standard route. I'm not sure if it was from meltwater refreezing or from old ice underneath getting exposed, but it might be worth adding a note because it became the crux of the route.