Page Type:
|
Mountain/Rock |
|---|---|
Lat/Lon:
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46.89401°N / 121.21676°W |
County:
|
Yakima |
Activities:
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Hiking, Mountaineering, Scrambling |
Season:
|
Spring, Summer, Fall |
|
Elevation:
|
6608 ft / 2014 m |
|
Overview
The true summit
 Tahoma from Old Scab |  Bumping Lake from Old Scab Mountain |
The views from this summit on a clear day are simply breathtaking. The good thing is that this peak is east of the crest which tends to be the drier side. This means that there will be less clouds and fog to block the views. As for summit that can be viewed from this peaks Mount Aix is to the southeast, towering Mount Rainier to the east and distant Mount Stuart can be seen to the north. This though is just a very small sample of the mountains that can be seen from this summit. It should also be noted that you have completely unobstructed views from the summit. There is a little exposure up top from cliff that borders the summit to the north. This makes the view from Old Scab Mountain even more dramatic. Though this peak tends to be overlook this peak is a real gem to all who summit it.
 The final Class 2 summit ridge |  Mount Aix and Nelson Ridge |
Getting There
VIA THE SOUTH ROUTE: From Highway 410; 21 miles to the west of its intersection with Highway 12 to the east and 26.5 miles east of Chinook Pass, take 1706 roughly 9.3 miles until it runs into Route 1600. Make a right onto 1600 and take it 5 miles where the Soda Creek trail will be on your right. The last bit of this road is considered rough and high clearance vehicles are recommended for this road. Add Route text here.Add Getting There text here.VIA THE NORTH ROUTE (SODA CREEK CAMPGROUND): From Highway 410; 19 miles east of Chinook Pass and 27.5 miles to the west of its intersection with Highway 12 to the east, take Bumping Lake Road 4.75 to Soda Creek Campground on your left. Stop by the camping area and pay for $5 fee at the pay station before parking your car at the picnic area by the footbridge.
Route
![CascadeCohen manuvering across talus]()
CascadeCohen manuvering across talus
CascadeCohen manuvering across talus
VIA THE SOUTH ROUTE:
4 MILES ROUNDTRIP
1400 ELEVATION GAIN/LOSS
Take the Soda Spring Trail north out of the parking area roughly a mile as it will descend roughly 300 feet from the trailhead. That will bring you near the base of Old Scab Mountain of your left hand side from there find the best off trail route up the mountain. My experience is that going north to grabbing the eastern ridge is the easiest way up but others have just gone directly up. This require a steep bushwhack but if you are lucky the slopes tend to be open. Once on the eastern side of the ridge traversed either the ridge or just below the ridge across a large amount of steep angled talus to the summit. This is Class 2 and lightly exposed.
Southern Route
THE NORTH ROUTE
10 MILES ROUNDTRIP
3700 FEET OF ELEVATION GAIN/LOSS
This is the longer way to get to the summit of Old Scab Mountain but it is the accessible way to the summit. You can often get here much early in the season and the road is in much better condition. Once over the cool looking footbridge from the Soda Creek Campground make a right. In a couple hundred feet you will hit a Y intersection with the trail on the left going uphill and another to the right following the creek. Take the left and head uphill. (this is in disagreement with the topographic map but so is most of the trail up to Old Scab. Continue up the trail up to intersection with the other Soda Creek trail roughly 1.2 miles in. Stay on the trail as it changes grades from steep to gradual to even at times descending all the to the flat section near the base of the finally summit area to Old Scab Mountain. From there head right early and try to ascend up to the northern tip of the eastern ridge. There is a bootpath in one part and various cairns to guide as you are heading up is you get lucky and find the route. This route up is steep to the ridgeline but moderates once follow this eastern ridge to the base of the ridge traverse. Once on the eastern side of the ridge traversed either the ridge or just below the ridge across a large amount of steep angled talus to the summit. This is Class 2 and lightly exposed.
Northern Route