5390 Massif Rock Climbing

There are two ways to access the massif from Sitka. The first route requires a three mile bike ride or walk from the closed gate at the end of sawmill creek road to an old gravel borrow pit on the left side of the road 1/4 mile past Medevjie hatchery. From there follow a route/flagging up to the south side of Cross Mountain (Cupola Peak), then follow a series of ridges to the massif. It is a full day approach at about 14 miles with roughly 9,000' elevation gain. I will include a map as the full route description requires more words than I’m allotted.

The second approach is much less arduous, but requires more equipment including a kayak.

Get your bike out at the same closed gate at the end of sawmill creek road but this time ride all the way to green lake. Be sure to take the road on the left when it forks before the hydropower plant. I have a kayak out there which we had to tow with our bikes on a trailer, but once it’s out there it can be locked up and left.

Kayak the lake to a spot on the north side where two streams converge—about two miles. Pull out amongst the alder trees and find the route—some flagging will help you gain the ridge and break out into the alpine. From here you gain the shoulder directly above you to the East and follow a series of ridges with a couple traverses to the massif. It’s about 6 miles biking, 2 miles kayaking, and 4 miles hiking with 5,000' of elevation gain.

Once again I’ll include a map of the route as it’s a little too convoluted to write it all out.