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Peak(s):  Twilight Peak  -  13,162 feet
North Twilight Peak  -  13,084 feet
South Twilight Peak  -  13,105 feet
West Needle Mountain  -  13,060 feet
Date Posted:  08/17/2020
Date Climbed:   08/12/2020
Author:  bergsteigen
Additional Members:   Brian Thomas
 Entering the Twilight Zone   

West Needle Mtn, South Twilight, Twilight, North Twilight

  • mileage: 19.58 (5.56 one way BP, 8.05 peaks)
  • elevation gain: 5,987' (1942' BP RT, 4,045' peaks)
  • trailheads: Andrews Lake
  • partners: Brian Thomas
  • Class: 3 (high level of route finding required)
  • Camp: Crater/Carter Lake (I've seen both spellings on the map)


You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead— your next stop, the Twilight Zone!


After hiking South Snowden last fall, I became quite interested in the Twilight group. I figured the views of the Weminuche to the east would be spectacular, and I was not disappointed. Even better, I was able to convince Brian to accompany me, since this route in summer, is quite scramble and route finding intensive. Plus the distance was enough, another backpacking overnight was also a good idea. Be sure to check this route out, before someone holds your hand with photos with red lines on them. Keep low 13ers ADVENTUROUS!

We camped nearby and showed up at the trailhead fairly early in the morning, hoping to beat the worst of the days heat, and get a parking spot at this popular lake. So we had breakfast and coffee while packing up our bags, trying to keep them as light as possible. Other than a couple of backpackers, we didn't see anyone on the trail beyond the split to Snowden. We even met one guy who did a through hike over the Twilight group from Purgatory! We kept an easy pace, since we had all day, and also didn't want to tire ourselves out for tomorrow.

20566_01

Andrews Lake with Snowden behind
20566_02
Brian checking out the peak across the street


20566_44
Me packing in, with North Twilight teasing us most of the way
Brian on the pack in


20566_03
Carter Lake with North Twilight


Yes, those are donkeys...


We set up camp, filtered water, ate lunch and then relaxed playing cards. Gin Rummy, Kings in the Corner and some violent game called Egyptian Rat Smash or something similar. For those who don't know, Brian counts cards. So he's dangerous. I won maybe 30-40% of the time. Thankfully we didn't keep track too well. After a relaxing afternoon, we ate dinner in the sun at the lake, and then retired to our respective tents to read ourselves to sleep.

Since the route finding would begin fairly fast on the route, I didn't want to get up to the pass above the lake before I could see the way ahead. The only other TR's on this site involve snow climbs of the peaks, and so we would have to do all the summer/dry style route finding. A fairly nice sunrise awaited us on the pass with a little tarn on top. From there we could get an idea of the terrain to take to the saddle between the 2 12ers on the ridge.

20566_04
Sunrise on the 12ers and South Twillight

The first section was mostly in a forested area till we hit a section of side hilling talus. We could spy the route we wanted to take to bypass the unranked 12ers ridge that split the valley like a fin. On the way up we would take the talus gulley to the right/north of the trees, and then contour into the valley between the 12ers, while on the return we found a use trail in the trees.

20566_05
Spying the route to the 12er saddle
20566_06
Looking back on the traverse behind us from the tarn saddle

Before we traversed into the trees to our ascent valley, we confirmed our descent from North Twilight would "go". Always nice to have confirmation!

20566_07
Looking up to the saddle between Twilight and North Twilight

Once we were into the valley to take us up between the 2 12ers, we were again comforted to know that the route would go. You can stay high up on the right/north side as long as you want. One section we dropped down below a cliff band to make sure we wouldn't get cliffed out, but the way above was just very steep grass.

20566_08
View from trees up the the 12er saddle

On the saddle, we were treated with a nice strong breeze to cool us down after the ascent. After a quick perusal of our surroundings, we found a good use trail that would take us in the direction of West Needle Mountain, our first objective of the day. This zone must see a bit of traffic for a trail to be that good from the saddle. We had been seeing a few small cairns already, and would see a few through the day, but pretty sparse, so that's nice. Don't like to lose adventure to nanny nation!

20566_09
View from saddle around the unranked 12er to the unranked 13er South Twilight
20566_10
Following the use trail over to West Needle


20566_45
Me on the trailed traverse, with the unranked 12er behind


Half way to West Needle's NE ridge, the trail disappears into a talus field. From there we had to decide how to reach the saddle. The 2 gendarmes on the ridge looked pretty intimidating, but the 2nd one looked solid and semi tame. But as we got closer, the potential to get cliffed out looked too high to take the chance, so we skirted high around it, in a loose talus gully, one at a time. When we reached the saddle, the 2nd gendarme does cliff out, so it was good we didn't waste time scrambling up it. We would get plenty of scrambling today anyway!

20566_11
Talus approach under the 2nd gendarme

Once we got to the NE ridge of West Needle, the super fun scrambling begins instantly! Furthermore said this was the highlight of the route, and I whole heartedly agree! This was a super fun route with lots of scrambling and route finding, and none of it was super exposed. You wouldn't want to fall, but nothing was like some of the airy drops I've seen elsewhere.

We started off simul-scrambling side by side, since Brian forgot his helmet, and there were that many options to choose your own scramble adventure! The route we took, started off in a steep grassy slope up to the ridge, then traversing around to a notch, then back up to the ridge. Nothing is really cairned here, so you have to have the skills ready and willing. Only one spot had anything.


20566_12
Looking up the grassy scramble to start, from the saddle


20566_13
Brian chose the left/east routes
20566_14
I went with the routes a bit to the right/west


20566_15
On the ridge for a little bit

On the way up, we traversed for a bit longer before getting to the first notch, since I saw some rocks above that didn't look friendly, but on the descent we stayed on the ridge for longer, and dropped down the first 2 mini gullies simultaneously. Sometimes you can't get a good idea of what's above from below, and we decided to play it safe. Both ways go!

20566_16
Brian starting the traverse around the first difficulty
20566_17
Looking down to the ridge from the start of the traverse

Once back up onto the ridge, we could see the next difficulty in the notch. It wasn't bad at all. Brian slid down a ramp, and I dodged to the right/north. On the return I went up the ramp.

Beyond the notch was a scramble up to the summit area with maybe a cairn or 2. The difficulty eased from then out to the smooth summit.

20566_18
Ridge just before the notch, with view of final pitch to summit


20566_46
Me scrambling up the ridge, with the rest of the Semi behind

The summit was well received, even if it was the farther bump. A quick break to snap picks, and we were off again. It was going to be a long day!

20566_48
West Needle pano


20566_19
Looking over at the next 3 peaks of the day
20566_20
Looking down from the summit ridge at the notch

As I mentioned before, we stuck on the ridge for a bit longer before dropping to the north before the lower ridge difficulty, staying in our of chosen scramble paths. Back at the saddle, I went down the loose talus first, and Brian followed as soon as it was safe. Back on the talus and trail, we made quick work back to the original saddle area. Before the path goes up to the saddle, I spotted an animal use trail that skirted the unranked 12ers lower cliff bands and we made quick work in that traverse. We aimed for a tree on the far side, and got a view up the scree gully between the unranked 12er and 13er. At first we were going to go up to the ridge, but I spotted a nice ramp below the first gully gendarme on the left, since the saddle up South Twilight looked a bit too class 5ish.


20566_22
Looking back on West Needle Mtn from the traverse


20566_21
Looking up the saddle between the unranked 12er and South Twilight. Traverse below gendarme

Once onto the the south face of South Twilight, it was a very steep ascent on blocky solid talus with some trees around, up to the summit. Steep!


20566_23
Looking down from the start of the grassy ramp from the scree gully. We started from the natural cairn on far side.
20566_24
Looking up the steep south face


20566_25
Just below South Twilight Summit, looking down route


Short pause on the unranked 13er before moving on the short distance to Twilight Peak. All easy terrain here.


20566_26
Ridge to Twilight from South Twilight

Took a much longer pause on Twilight, since the views of the Wemi to the east were spectacular, now that the sun was illuminating them better.


20566_49
Twilight Pano










20566_27
South Twilight & West Needle from summit

From Twilight to North Twilight would involve more difficult route finding. Furthermore had a bit of snow to deal with, so we couldn't be sure what aid or detriment that gave him. From above, it was very difficult to say if the route would go. There were too many hidden parts, till we got closer. We zig zagged down the initial slope from the ridge above, and I inspected the gully. It went, with a series of class 3 "waterless waterfalls". From above, these didn't looks good, but once on top of them, I could see the descent. We again went one at a time, since this gully is complete JANK! Butt Scoot Alley!


20566_28
View to North Twilight LOOKS easy, except for the pesky notch.


20566_29
Vertigo inducing look into the gully


20566_47
Me going down Butt Scoot Alley


20566_30
Looking up at one of the waterless waterfalls- class 3
20566_31
Exit slope on other side, back to ridge- easy


20566_32
Butt Scoot Alley from well below
20566_33
Looking up the ramp back to the ridge


20566_34
Entire route down to the notch from back on the ridge

Obviously if one does the route in reverse, finding a more stable option to the immediate left of the gully could be possible. Down climbing unknown class 3/4 is tricky, and we went with the fastest/safest option with the Butt Scoot Alley.

Once back up the ridge, the route over to North Twilight was very easy. A nice finish to the day, looking down at the lake we were camped at.


20566_35
North Twilight looks easy/boring from this angle


20566_50
North Twilight pano


20566_36
Group shot with our other peaks behind
20566_37
View down to camp on right, with Snoden's


20566_38
Wemi on my mind, and my Mind on the Wemi

After a nice break, we headed back to the saddle and down the valley to meet up with our ascent route.


20566_39
View down from saddle


20566_40
Pretty descent lake
20566_41
Looking up at the saddle and North Twilight from lake

On our descent I had planned to take the same talus gully down to the willow bash, to the talus traverse to the tarn saddle above Carter Lake, but we got distracted by a use trail that took us into the trees. I had been peeking at my GPS and noted when we met up with our ascent trail, but Brian distracted me, and I wasn't checking my GPS often, so we kept following the trail. By the time we realized, the way down to the talus gully was a cliff, so we continued through the very steep trees. We were deposited in the valley below without any willows and then even found a use trail through the talus! This use trail is below our track on the way up. It made fast work of the hot afternoon traverse over to the tarn saddle.

From the tarn saddle, we went around Carter Lake on the other side, and got a great view from above.

20566_42
Above Carter Lake

Since I didn't bring enough food for another night, we had to pack out. So much for "light packing". With more food, it would have been better to stay the extra night, since it was well into mid afternoon before we got back to camp. After snacking, water filtering and a short rest, we were packed up and on the trail out. I had hoped to make it out before sunset, but the trail is so mellow, we couldn't make up much time on the exit. We had to finish by headlamp. Arriving at the trailhead, there was a large family making a lot of noise. Since I was going to camp nearby at the overnight lot, I wasn't sure how long they were going to be there, or even why.

Since it was dark enough, I wanted to get a shot of the Milky Way with Snowden off to one side. A nice end shot for the trip. That's when I realized that this was the peak of the Perseid meteor shower! A nice surprise to end a very fun enjoyable trip!

20566_43

Too bad life gave me a huge sucker punch on the drive home, rather deflating the natural mountain high I had just experienced. C'est la vie!


My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):




Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50


Comments or Questions
Brian Thomas
User
Team Work Makes The Dream Work
8/17/2020 4:55pm
This was fun. These are some nice peaks. 2K+ prominence on Twilight too.


Sbenfield
User
Nice
8/17/2020 5:34pm
Great pictures!


Jay521
User
As always...
8/18/2020 9:51am
... your reports rock, Otina. Love it!


mtngoatwithstyle
Great report!
8/23/2020 1:16pm
Thank you Otina. I was there 2 falls ago to the lake and always wondered if anyone would venture up there into Snowden and Twilights... and you did!. Your milky way photo is gorgeous and I also woke up to see the Perseids. So amazing!.Thank you for sharing!


ryandegrunt
N. Twilight vs Twilight
9/25/2021 5:43am
I can't tell from this report exactly how the summit of Twilight was done so I'll add my experience. For me, from Andrews Lake, N. Twilight is fairly straightforward, non-technical, Class 2 hike - yah! There's even a trail at times. I thought I would "take a look" at Twilight from N. Twilight. It was just fine until a deep gorge (couloir) cuts the mountain in two. So close - but not for me. I guess this is Class 3 but I really couldn't find a good way to do it. All I saw was a shear vertical climb, not a scramble. I mean yah, after that its nothing. But theres a big something before that nothing.


bergsteigen
User
Difficult route finding
9/28/2021 11:21am
Ryandegrunt - I‘ve shown quite a few photos of the gully on Twilight and how it was done. It requires quite a bit of *advanced* route finding. Not easy. I am not one to put red lines on photos, it‘s not my style. Essentially, one should be a good route finder before attempting this route, and red lines on a photo won‘t help you with the details. Come back after you gain more experience!



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