South Route

Approach

This is the preferred route if combining with an ascent of the Main (East) Summit of Mt. Higgins.

From the Swede Heaven Road turn off at SR-530 (see Getting There section on Main Page), go north across the river to a T-junction. Turn left and go 1.3 miles to 371st Street on the right (elevation 400 ft). 371st is Forest Road 1890. Drive FR-1890 north up the mountain for 2.9 miles to a junction (1,560 ft). Stay left and continue on 1 mile to where the road reaches a high point (1,920 ft) and begins going downhill slightly. Park at the high point. This is your start point. There is no trail.

Route Description

Leave the road and climb directly up the steep forested but open hillside due north or slightly west of north. You will eventually come to a ridge trending NW. Follow this ridge. It flattens out at about 4,000 ft. The ridge culminates at a rock outcrop amongst trees at 4,360+ ft (1.1 miles from the car; 2,440 ft of gain). To your left (west) you will see the Main Summit of Mt. Higgins. To your right (north) will be Round Mountain.

From Pt. 4360+, drop 40 feet off the rock outcrop and continue through minor brush (or snow in early season) to the South Ridge. Climb up the steepening ridge (Class 3 at first) until a talus slope below a rock wall appears on the right. Leave the ridge here as it only gets steeper and harder above. Contour NE across the talus slope to get around the rocky corner and into the SE-facing basin. Climb up through the basin to the summit (Class 2).

Descent: return the same way.

Time = 4 hours from the car. Distance = 2 miles. Elevation gain = 3,400 ft.

Essential Gear

Ice axe if early season.
Appropriate clothing for the weather conditions.
Suitable brush whacking gear.
Possibly lightweight crampons for the steep duff forest if conditions are wet.

Miscellaneous Info

If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.

Images

View South Route Image Gallery - 1 Images