(See the narrative below for more details.)Įnjoying this post? Pin this image to bookmark it. At that time, it was still passable by a good snow bridge. On July 13, 2018, a crevasse extended across the entire approach to Crystal Pass. However, the route also becomes more circuitous as the crevasses open. The weather improves as the season wears on. The main climbing season extends from late June to mid-August. Start early before the heat comes on and pace yourself appropriately! When is the best time of year to Climb Mount Olympus?
Even if you break your approach into two days, hiking 17.5 miles with full packs can beat you up. Rainier, but the same checklist applies.) You'll also need at least one person on the team who can lead the last rock pitch and set up the rappel anchor.įinally, don't underestimate the approach. If you plan to climb unguided, definitely check out this post. Since my climbing partner doesn't do glacier rescue (yet) and neither of us lead rock, we booked a guided trip. Even if you're climbing guided, everyone on your Mount Olympus rope team should have some basic snow climbing, roped travel, and rock climbing skills. It really blows away the little "pocket" glaciers you'll see in places like Glacier National Park. Sid (our guide) said it reminds him of the glaciers in Alaska. The standard route up Mount Olympus is a great mountaineering challenge that mixes several disciplines: glacier travel, scrambling, snow climbing, and rock climbing.įrom your base camp at Glacier Meadows, you'll also have a chance to view the Blue Glacier, which is a true river of ice. This also means you will have nicely maintained trails and facilities all the way to basecamp. The mountain is entirely located in Olympic National Park, so a climb allows you to check an NP off your list. Its largest glacier is the Blue Glacier, which you will get quite intimate with when you climb. (If you want to get some photos, try Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park.)ĭespite its relatively low elevation and latitude, Mount Olympus is heavily glaciated. It's also Washington's third most isolated peak, so there are very few places you can actually view the mountain itself. This makes for some amazing views from the summit.
Olympus is the tallest peak in the Olympic Mountains and the fifth most prominent peak in Washington (7,838').
Well, here are some facts that might change your mind. Climbing Mount Olympus (Washington) FAQs:īefore we dive into a day-to-day narrative of our climb, here are a few Mount Olympus facts and climbing tips: Why should I climb Mount Olympus?Īfter all, it's not very tall (7,980').
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