Kaleetan Granite Traverse

Sam, Rio and I did the traverse from Alpental to Kaleetan and Granite, exiting at Exit 47. Overall, I think this is a really fun adventurous route off the beaten path. Two great summits and long south facing descents. Kaleetan was largely mush, but Granite skied like pseudo Junuary corn at sunset. Plenty of snow down to the Pratt at 3400, where we forded the shin deep river. We were just barely able to get down Granite back to the car without taking skis off, but only just barely.

The traverse totals to about 13 miles and 6500 ft gain. A lot of terrain is deceptively complex and slow, so it was a harder day than the stats show.

https://climberkyle.com/2022/01/22/kaleetan-granite-traverse/

I'd recommend bringing two axes for Kaleetan. The slope to gain the shoulder from near Melakwa Pass was 45 degree neve.