Isolation Traverse

2025-05-24

This ski traverse going from Cascade Pass to Hwy 20 has long been on my bucket list so I was happy to get it done on an uncertain weather weekend. Some interesting ski conditions, but the views couldn’t be beat.

And off we go from the Eldorado Trailhead! Wyatt’s pack was probably the heaviest one I’ve ever held up.

Familiar views of J-berg and Cascade Pass

Crossing over the ridge and now seeing Glacier Peak

Yep the same Eldo from earlier this month lol

Pointy Forbidden Peak

Moraine Lake

Pointy spires around Eldorado

Inspiration Glacier

McAllister Glacier

Marble Creek

Starting the ski off Backbone Ridge onto camp

Camp views looking down McAllister Creek

I am not the biggest fan of hauling heavy loads for multi-day adventures, but the sunset camp views are worth it sometimes

Baker

The Triad

The Picket Range post sunset

Jack Mountain post sunrise

Hidden Lake Peaks and Snowking behind

Snowfield Peak on the right, where we’ll be heading

Never seen Eldorado from this angle

Skiing down the Ice Elation Couloir

Ice Elation Couloir from further up

We postulated that you can’t be too high up or else the Pickets won’t look cool - you need the context of the blank sky to stand out against

Icefall on the lower McAllister Glacier

Perdition Peak

McAllister Creek

On Isolation Peak, gazing at the peaks of the Inspiration Traverse

We thought getting off Isolation Peak with the wet slab problems we’ve experienced would be the crux but it ended up being pretty straightforward and fun for me to ski

Couloirs off Newhalem Peaks

Slow skiing down the Neve Glacier, with heavy pollen under our skis

We saw glacier worms blanketing the entire lower Neve Glacier! Wyatt said they live on the glaciers here year round, remnants of the last ice age

Mount Triumph

Looking back at the gentle slopes of the Neve Glacier

Paul Bunyans Stump, Pinnacle Peak, Pyramid Peak above the Colonial Glacier

Cool looking ice striations

I’ve driven over this bridge countless times

Kyle in search of our campsite near those rocks. Jack Mountain rises and incredible 7500 ft from Ross Lake.

Final camp views

Overlooking the Diablo Dam facilities below

Elija Ridge and Gabriel, some pointy and prominent peaks for how little they get talked about

Lines off Colonial Peak

Clouds kept passing over Pyramid Peak down to our campsite

Pretty cruiser trail down to our cars parked near Pyramid Lake

Notes

  • This was probably ~27 miles and ~14000 feet of vertical gain over two and a half days.