Glacier Peak Summit #1, Washington

July 24-25, 2026. Absolutely amazing adventure! Been wanting to get out to Glacier Peak for at least three years. So happy to have been able to see this amazing place. Cascade Volcano 18 of 20. We had planned on a July 25-26 summit bid, but after a chance of rain was forecasted on the evening of the 25th we made a last-minute decision to drive up to the North Fork Sauk Trailhead on Thursday, the 23rd. Arrived at the trailhead a little after 10pm and camped for the night. Set out the next morning at 7:15am. The old growth western red cedar and Douglas-fir were an awesome sight. So many trees growing out of large boulders and nurse logs; nature is amazing. The trail was recently cut open and brushed. Incredible views all around. Took time to take pictures of the scenery and blooming flowers (for iNaturalist) in the White Pass area. The route finding across the glacier moraine was a bit tedious in places where there were no cairns. Glad we did not choose to camp lower and avoided route finding that area in the dark of night. Arrived at Glacier Gap after 15 miles, 6,785 feet of vert, and 8.5 hours. Plenty of tent sites and clear, flowing water from a small seep just below camp. Little Giant Fire sent up a massive column. Started out for the summit at 3:40am. Made good time and roped up for Suiattle and Cool glaciers, but there were no open crevasses on the route, not even any small cracks. Snow was very firm on the glaciers and the final climb to the summit. Glad to have crampons and an ice ax. Saw a large boulder start to roll down from Disappointment Peak and rockfall on the ridge to the north of Cool Glacier. A couple of solo climbers and a party of two were descending on our way up. Reached the summit in 3 hours 5 minutes and had amazing views all around. Decided not to rope up for the glaciers on the way back down. Many parties were headed up to the summit when we were descending, they had a mixed bag of gear, many people roped up and then there was a couple with only microspikes and trail runners. Got back to camp in a couple of hours. Packed up and headed all the way back out to the trailhead. Clouds started moving in and the summit was socked in by the time we were halfway across the moraine. There was a little drizzle off and on twice when we were back below treeline, but nothing that even dampened our clothes, glad we were not on the upper mountain when the clouds rolled in even more. Saw and heard lots of marmots, heard a few pika, saw four gray-crowned rosy finches, American pipits, horned larks, and Sooty grouse. Pretty sure there was a black bear eating berries in a brushy area below treeline. Many parties were hiking in for a summit bit on Sunday, the trailhead and road was jam packed with cars. The final few miles were a bit of a slog and we were happy to finally reach the car and start the 6 hour drive home. Day 2 stats 21.4 miles, 5,642 feet of vert, and 12 hours 56 minutes (includes a little under an hour spent packing up camp). ‪@blackcrowmthood‬ Some GoPro issues with some of the forest videos being blurry and then random clicking noises that might have been my backpack. 00:00 day 1 start from the TH 01:24 bridge crossing 02:02 above treeline 03:23 White Pass 03:54 Glacier Peak in view 04:27 entering the moraine 06:19 striped boulder 06:55 creek jump! 07:08 blue lake 07:39 Glacier Gap 08:24 sunrise on the mountain 09:27 on the summit! 11:41 headed back down in the wind 11:55 down the glaciers 12:59 off the glaciers 13:54 looking back at Glacier Peak 14:38 back to camp 15:10 snow patches 15:25 blue lake 15:58 creek jump 16:45 last glacier basin views 17:40 headed to White Pass 18:52 marmot on the trail! 19:41 moody clouds 21:52 back in the trees 22:08 bridge crossing 23:15 big cedar 24:05 made it!