questions about Mt. Catherine route?

I was looking at the Summit Nordic Center website they other day and in particularly the trail map.

I noticed on the trail map a green trail on the south side of the resort labeled Cold Creek trail. Is this groomed trail the same as the trail labeled Road 9070 on the Green Trail Map # 207?

Is this the preferred way to access the Mt. Cathrine area?

Also, how dense or sparsly forested is the valley between Mt. Catherine and the Summit resort areas? How steep are the valley sides?

Also does the Summit resort areas get upset if you are back there without a pass?

Thanks

snbdman

I think the preffered route is park at Hyak ski hill parking lot (no snowpark permit required), and go up and over mt Hyak (often closed). I've never done it while they're open, but I think if you stay to the sides and out of the way, they don't mind. Down the back side of Hyak (heading south. Lightly treed, easily traveled), and on to Catherine. Martin volken's got a book about ski routes on snoqualmie pass. Hope this helps.

Go to search at the top of the page and type in Catherine, lots of beta about routes, conditions and assorted issues in the area, some are rather detailed

Road 9070 does more of a LARGE looping tour around the the SW side of Catherine on roads/trails that eventually make it up into the lakes N of Catherine and and W of the lifts at Summit Central.

As far as the trails directly behind Hyak...I've only done what the previous poster said about skinning up closed trails (M-F) and poking around back in that area, then skiing out via Hyak.

Check out Burgdorfers book, Tour #74 to Silver Peak.  This has a good description of the start at the Keechelus Sno Park, and the route going into the pass between Catherine and Silver.

snbdman: S side of Hyak is good, not many trees. I did it alone once this Jan. alone and it was open enough, but there is a significant stream crossing to get to Catherine. You have to yoyo back up, contour west to the groomed trail bridge, or do some jumping, wading and climbing to cross. !Cuidado!

Yea, Mill Creek can be a bit of a challenge to cross. There is a bridge on the north side of Hidden Valley where the nordic trail goes through.