cascadescrambler - Aug 16, 2019 11:53 am Date Climbed: Jul 13, 1991
Unpleasant
It's a high peak with good views, but on this particular day I had one of my worst encounters with mosquitoes ever. A cloud of them buzzed around my head the whole way, and it's a long way. I thought getting a little breeze off the snow would drive them away. Nope.
Peaker - Oct 31, 2018 9:47 pm Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2018
From Merritt Lake TH
Nice hike in clear, cool weather. Fairly long but the going is never that bad. Encountered a little annoying brush heading directly up from Crescent Lake so I stayed farther west on the way down and came across some helpful use trails.
A nice ramble from Mastif. Descent to the east side of Crescent Lake tedious.
MAero - Aug 26, 2015 12:45 am Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2015
Fun scramble
Ascended the S. face from Crescent Lake - brush wasn't too bad and there were several viable routes to choose from. Much more pleasant on the way up than it would be on the down... I like the direction of our loop and doing Howard before Mastiff. Smoky due to the Chelan Complex fires and an easterly flow Full TR on the blog
kevinsa - Jun 5, 2015 8:08 pm Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2015
Howard
Had I known the Nason Ridge trail was in such bad shape in the Royal Creek basin, I may have just gone in and out via Mastiff instead of doing the traverse. I did find something of a climber's path/game trail through the steep area above Crescent Lake. I marked it at 6100' as N47 48.539 W120 57.315.
Dundeel - May 27, 2015 7:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2013
Howie Zowie
A little pika came out of the summit rocks and sat next to me chewing on grass.
JordanH - Oct 30, 2014 10:39 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2014
Long Day!
Nice long traverse. Lost the trail a few times, but overall very fun and challenging peak.
I approached the mountain from the combination of Merritt Lake Trail, Nason Ridge Trail, and southern slopes (off-trail). It was no more difficult than Class 2, and seldom even that. The SW ridge looks like nasty Class 3/4 stuff; my approach (S/SE slopes) was much more desirable. The best thing about my trip was that I had virtually no encounters with flying insects! I think the breezy wind kept them away, as other recent visitors complained about how nasty the insects get in these areas.
I decided to save Rock Mountain and Mount Mastiff for future trips.
summited Mastiff and Howard in succession from the Merritt Lake Trailhead before descending to Crescent Lake and missing the Nason Ridge Trail (snow was still solid at that altitude). this prompted around 4 hours of bushwhacking and extremely sketchy scrambling. after loosing my map (and my patience) i simply made a beeline for hwy 2 and then hiked around 3.5 miles back to the trailhead. fun fact: when speaking of bushwhacking you tend to assume that the bush is the object of the sentence, this is false, it is the subject and you are the object.
Camped at Crescent Lake. Scambled up in the morning to reach the summit 15 minutes before dawn. Quite a pleasing view. Bushwhacking the lower flanks and navigating the band of cliffs are activities best left for the light of day.
Bryan K - Oct 19, 2009 5:57 pm Date Climbed: Apr 4, 2009
Yup
Last log to sign for that day
gimpilator - Aug 5, 2009 2:28 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2009
Rock, Howard, and Mastiff
Bryan and I started at the Snowy Creek trail head at 8am. We found that a huge pile of avalanche debris had annihilated parts of the trail between 4600 and 5000 feet. We started with the summit of Rock Mountain and then worked our way over to Howard and Mastiff. We took twenty minute breaks on each summit and spent the rest of the day moving. We got back to the car at 8:30pm
We went up the SW ridge and then out the NE ridge over Mastiff on the way back. Good views.
Andy Dewey - May 27, 2008 12:52 am Date Climbed: May 25, 2008
Route Climbed: NE Ridge
Started at Merritt Lake trailhead and climbed Mastiff, then went up the NE ridge of Howard. Went down via Crescent Lake and back out to Merritt. Long day.
cascadescrambler - Aug 16, 2019 11:53 am Date Climbed: Jul 13, 1991
UnpleasantIt's a high peak with good views, but on this particular day I had one of my worst encounters with mosquitoes ever. A cloud of them buzzed around my head the whole way, and it's a long way. I thought getting a little breeze off the snow would drive them away. Nope.
Peaker - Oct 31, 2018 9:47 pm Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2018
From Merritt Lake THNice hike in clear, cool weather. Fairly long but the going is never that bad. Encountered a little annoying brush heading directly up from Crescent Lake so I stayed farther west on the way down and came across some helpful use trails.
setrent - Sep 12, 2018 12:24 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2018
From MastifA nice ramble from Mastif. Descent to the east side of Crescent Lake tedious.
MAero - Aug 26, 2015 12:45 am Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2015
Fun scrambleAscended the S. face from Crescent Lake - brush wasn't too bad and there were several viable routes to choose from. Much more pleasant on the way up than it would be on the down... I like the direction of our loop and doing Howard before Mastiff. Smoky due to the Chelan Complex fires and an easterly flow Full TR on the blog
kevinsa - Jun 5, 2015 8:08 pm Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2015
HowardHad I known the Nason Ridge trail was in such bad shape in the Royal Creek basin, I may have just gone in and out via Mastiff instead of doing the traverse. I did find something of a climber's path/game trail through the steep area above Crescent Lake. I marked it at 6100' as N47 48.539 W120 57.315.
Dundeel - May 27, 2015 7:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2013
Howie ZowieA little pika came out of the summit rocks and sat next to me chewing on grass.
JordanH - Oct 30, 2014 10:39 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2014
Long Day!Nice long traverse. Lost the trail a few times, but overall very fun and challenging peak.
Redwic - Jul 5, 2013 11:36 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2013
Great approach!I approached the mountain from the combination of Merritt Lake Trail, Nason Ridge Trail, and southern slopes (off-trail). It was no more difficult than Class 2, and seldom even that. The SW ridge looks like nasty Class 3/4 stuff; my approach (S/SE slopes) was much more desirable. The best thing about my trip was that I had virtually no encounters with flying insects! I think the breezy wind kept them away, as other recent visitors complained about how nasty the insects get in these areas.
I decided to save Rock Mountain and Mount Mastiff for future trips.
tcingrum - Sep 18, 2012 12:26 am
Howard/mastiffBasically a long hike with a couple of walk up peaks. Nice area. Didn't see anybody untill back on Merritt lake trail.
jacobsmith - Jul 9, 2012 11:54 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2012
Fun Times on Mastiff and Howardsummited Mastiff and Howard in succession from the Merritt Lake Trailhead before descending to Crescent Lake and missing the Nason Ridge Trail (snow was still solid at that altitude). this prompted around 4 hours of bushwhacking and extremely sketchy scrambling. after loosing my map (and my patience) i simply made a beeline for hwy 2 and then hiked around 3.5 miles back to the trailhead. fun fact: when speaking of bushwhacking you tend to assume that the bush is the object of the sentence, this is false, it is the subject and you are the object.
BKW - Sep 11, 2011 5:53 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2011
Dawn SummitCamped at Crescent Lake. Scambled up in the morning to reach the summit 15 minutes before dawn. Quite a pleasing view. Bushwhacking the lower flanks and navigating the band of cliffs are activities best left for the light of day.
Bryan K - Oct 19, 2009 5:57 pm Date Climbed: Apr 4, 2009
YupLast log to sign for that day
gimpilator - Aug 5, 2009 2:28 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2009
Rock, Howard, and MastiffBryan and I started at the Snowy Creek trail head at 8am. We found that a huge pile of avalanche debris had annihilated parts of the trail between 4600 and 5000 feet. We started with the summit of Rock Mountain and then worked our way over to Howard and Mastiff. We took twenty minute breaks on each summit and spent the rest of the day moving. We got back to the car at 8:30pm
ericnoel - Jul 13, 2009 1:39 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2009
SW RidgeWe went up the SW ridge and then out the NE ridge over Mastiff on the way back. Good views.
Andy Dewey - May 27, 2008 12:52 am Date Climbed: May 25, 2008
Route Climbed: NE RidgeStarted at Merritt Lake trailhead and climbed Mastiff, then went up the NE ridge of Howard. Went down via Crescent Lake and back out to Merritt. Long day.
Bob Bolton - Jul 29, 2005 12:16 am
Route Climbed: South Slopes Date Climbed: July 1991Duane and I took our boys up this one. Day hiked it from the Rock Lake TH.
Moni - Jul 28, 2005 8:23 pm
Route Climbed: South Flank Date Climbed: 27 July 2005With Phoebe Duke. From Rock Lake. A real grind to come in that way.