Prusik Peak  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  32,430. Good page?    Administrators:  Peter Franzen, Kristine Hoffman, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Karsten on Mar 22, 2006 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue 61° | 46° 68° | 46° 68° | 48° 72° | 45° 72° | 43°

Prussik Peak.
Photo by Blitzo.

Description 

This granite pyramid is not the largest piece of rock but its unusually solid rock is home to some of the cascades best alpine rock routes. Accomanied by a beautiful lake this peak has everything from the beginner to the burlified alpinist. While popular on weekends you can find the entire peak to yourself at times.

Look for booty neutrinos while your there.

Getting There 

Approach Prusik Peak via Snow Lakes Trail or Colchuck and Stuart lakes Trail. Both Trailheads require USFS parking permits and camping is by permit only between June 15 - Oct 15. Acquire permits at the Leavenworth Ranger Station.

For Snow Lakes approach:
Follow Icicle Rd. 4.3 miles to the Snow Creek Trail Head parking lot on the left. Follow the trail out of the parking lot past the billboard and over the creek. This trail will take you past Nada and Snow Lakes and put you at Lake Vivianne, looking directly at the south face of Prusik Peak, in about 10 miles with 5,000+ft elevation gain. Once at Lake Vivianne, follow trails up and right to Temple Lake and continue up climbers paths through boulders to the base of Prusik Peak for south face routes or hike to Prusik Pass to climb West Ridge route.

For Colchuck/Stuart Lakes approach:
Follow Icicle Rd. about 8.5 miles to Bridge Creek Campground. Find FS road 7601 at the far west end of the campground and follow it until you reach the Stuart Lake Trailhead. Hike the trail for 2.5 miles and take an obvious left leading to Colchuck lake. Once at the lake, boulder hop to the south end of the lake, passing underneath Colchuck and Dragontail Peaks, heading for Aasgard pass to the left of Dragontail. Follow Aasgard to its top on a well maintained trail. From the top continue on the Upper Enchantments trail until Prusik Peak is visible and choose whether to approach via Prusik Pass or Lake Vivianne.

Note: Approach from Snow Lakes tacks on an additional, approximate 2 miles and 1000ft of elevation gain, but is much more gradual and consistent. I.e. Aasgard pass gains 2.2k ft elevation in .8 miles. Snow lakes trail is also much more shaded on hot, sunny approach days.

The Classics

Featured Route For Prusik Peak

West Ridge 5.7  WA : Leavenworth : ... : Prusik Peak

This climb mainly goes up easier terrain on solid rock. The most distinctive pitch is near the top and goes up a short exposed slab (5.7). Otherwise the climbing is 5.5 or easier. Stay fairly close to the ridge proper looking for easiest path. Spectacular position and fun climbing make this a classic. It would see 100X the traffic if you didn't have to hike 6 hrs to get to it....[more]   Browse More Classics in WA

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Prussik area. Photo by Blitzo.	Prusik Peak and Mt. Temple Ridge from the upper En...	BETA PHOTO: Prusik Peak - South Side
Prusik Peak - W. ridge	Perfection Lake and Prusik Peak	Colchuck Lake from Aasgard Pass
Mountain goat near the top of Aasgard pass	Near our bivvy site my Colchuck Lake	Aasgard pass on the left - from here , we had an e...