Please make an appointment for bootfitting.
The Rock Howard Mastiff Traverse is a highly scenic and accessible ski traverse that makes for a more adventurous day than your typical winter tour at Stevens Pass. The route is named after three high peaks with surprising prominence - Rock, Howard, and Mastiff. And much like an island of high peaks, they give great views over the entire Central Cascades, from the Chiwaukum to Mt. Daniel to Glacier Peak Wilderness. The skiing is varied, with plenty of options to ski some great alpine bowls, little chutes, and classic tree skiing. There are many possibilities to extend the trip into a multi-day adventure, farming powder, or race through in early spring corn conditions. Expect around 12 miles of travel and 8,000' of vert gain.
Began at the Rock Mountain road and skin up the road and then ascend up the ridge, generally following the location of the hiking trail. Because this is low elevation and south facing, hiking might be more efficient than skinning here. Eventually, you will reach the alpine and can continue booting and skinning to the summit of Rock Mountain. At the summit of Rock, ski one of the shallow north facing gullies for as long as you'd like, before transitioning and skinning up to the Rock Howard col. Enjoy an east facing descent to Crescent Lake, then climb directly up the south face of Howard, steeply first, then more gradually. Then ski the east slopes of Howard until you can began climbing up the west slopes of Mastiff. The descent off Mastiff is more tricky. Ski east, staying skier's left to avoid cliffs before dropping straight Lost Lake. From here, one must climb to a saddle to drop down to Merritt Lake. From here, generally follow the location of the summer trail until you get back down to US2.
Leave one car at the Merritt Lake turnoff and drive back to the Rock Mountain turnoff. Access for this tour relies on plowed shoulders to park. Do not park during a storm or you might get in the way of plows. It might take a few days after a storm for the shoulder to get plowed, but that gives all the big slopes time to stabilize.
The climb up Rock is long and steep. Crampons or ski crampons are advisable since it may be firm in the morning. Booting might be faster unless it is really good skinning conditions.
This tour is best done from January to March. The lower slopes on the approach and descent melt out early since they are south facing east side slopes. Fortunately, this tour is accessible all winter!
