Mount Watson-Bacon Peak

Peter and I skied a traverse from Mount Watson to Bacon Peak a couple days ago. We were able to drive to 3,700’, about 2 miles from the Watson-Anderson Lakes TH. From here there are large patches of snow until about 4,600’ where the snow becomes consistent. We followed the NE ridge of Watson to about 6,000’ then skied a nice morning corn run to the col between the E and W peaks of Watson. We weren’t planning on climbing Watson but from the col it wasn’t far away so we booted over to the W peak and easily scrambled up the SW side. From here we returned to the col and skied a short run trending SE, then booted up to gain the E bowl of Watson’s E peak. This route involved a sketchy moat crossing that will probably fall apart in the next few days. After the moat we skied more corn to a small tarn then skinned to the divide separating the Noisy and Diobsud drainages at about 5,500’. From here we followed the route described in Burgdorfer, skiing a traverse to the left with a couple sections of booting across dry patches. We climbed a small gully climber’s left of the waterfall then traversed S above the waterfall and climbed NE following benches and gullies up to the summit plateau. After a nice break on the summit enjoying views of the Pickets, Shuksan, and Baker, we skied N then looped around to the W and skied almost 3,000’ to the bottom of the valley. We booted up to the col just E of Point 5580 then skied a traverse wrapping around the S side of Point 5580. From here it was a short boot back to the divide, then a long ski traverse back to Watson Lakes with a couple short booters to gain elevation.

All in all it was almost 10k of elevation gain (mostly booting), 19 miles, and took us 14 hours. Climbing the W side of Bacon (the way we skied down) would be a lot more direct and skinnable. Earlier in the season you could even drop into the Noisy Creek drainage before Point 5580 and save a lot of time.