Whale Peak

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 10/15/2019, By: two lunches
Info: 6-8" of snow from 10,5/11K+. Probably melting this week, but more is forecasted in the upcoming days. Spotted a bull and cow moose in the willows below Gibson Lake 

Route: from Georgia Pass
Posted On: 8/31/2019, By: shaunblair
Info: Dry, as expected. Windy, and lots of grasshoppers/crickets. 

Route: Gibson Lake TH
Posted On: 7/6/2019, By: TheBeardedBullet
Info: We ran into some snow below the lake but the trail was easy to follow. Postholed about 3 times on the way down. The lake had one small chunk of ice and was completely clear of snow. I caught 1 trout while up at the lake. We hiked up the to saddle S of the lake and up the ridge to the summit. Didn't walk on any snow on that part. The peak was clear as well. The 4wd road to the TH was pretty rough. High clearance vehicle recommended but we did see a Ford Escape pretty high up the road. 

Route: Jefferson Lake via 12ers
Posted On: 7/1/2019, By: Chicago Transplant
Info: Possible to summit Whale and the 2 unnamed 12ers to its south without stepping on snow from Jefferson Lake. I left the lake trail really early and it was steep in the trees, but you can leave after the backside of the lake and go up to the saddle in between 12088 and 12567 for a gentler approach as well and that also looks dry. Looped around to Glacier and there was some patchy snow coming off Glacier along the ridge, bailed in the valley and had a few snowfields to cross in the valley and then strung together some dry meadows before getting back to the lake. Note there is a $7 day use fee at Jefferson Lake. Road open to lake, but parking lot has a big snowdrift over about 1/3 or so of the parking space. Also tagged Jefferson Hill (10er), its dry by the valley approach to it is swampy. This is a good option if you want to leave the snowshoes and spikes at home. I didn't even take my gaiters out of my pack. 1: 12567 and Whale from 12088 2: 12567 and 12088 from falsie on Whale 3: Whale from falsie 4: Descent off Glacier's ridge 5: Meadows in the valley 

Route: Gibson lake TH
Posted On: 6/26/2019, By: SnowAlien
Info: Road is dry, saw Crosstrek parked near 4x4 TH (while I parked my Subi by Hall Valley CG, adding 2 miles RT). Trail is dry to about 11k, patchy snow thereafter, more continuous snow after 11.5k. Skinned up to the ridge, skied down Whales tail. Felt a bit past it's prime, with some avy debris. Exit basin developing suncups. 

Route: Gibson Lake
Posted On: 6/16/2018, By: goldenite
Info: Great day on Whale Peak and the weather held out for a ridge walk around the basin. Ascended the north ridge and descended the south. Avoidable snow on that route, though may have to cross what used to be the cornice (no big overhangs) and the whale's tail isn't in at the top. The north ridge is better to avoid willows, but they're not too tall when taking the south ridge. Shout out to the nice woman I met on the south ridge face who shared her knowledge of the harder 14ers and talked shop with me as we got back to the trail. Refreshing to find someone so open to chatting. 

Route: Whales Tail
Posted On: 5/28/2018, By: chiploomis
Info: The Tail is still in, well at least enough to ski a few turns. My CR-V had difficulty getting to the trailhead, it is a 1999 and does not have the power it used to. got within .6 miles of the TH 

Route: Gibson Lake
Posted On: 5/8/2018, By: TakeMeToYourSummit
Info: Trailhead info: A few small snow patches on the road (melting fast). My friend drove his Honda CRV to the TH (more snow on the road above that though). I don't think a vehicle with less clearance would do well on this road. Route info: Patchy snow for the first mile - then consistant, supportive snow along the trail (with minimal bare sections to step across). We lost the trail as we neared treeline, but a non-issue as the route becomes obvious. We ascended (skinning) the gully lookers right up from the lake, transitioned to booting with axes 300 or 400 feet below the summit (NE Bowl), & stomped a straight line up snow & a bit of rock to the top. A bit of wind & hazy clouds helped keep our snow from getting too cooked. The Whale Tail was creamy corn as was the rest of our descent to treeline. In the trees the snow got funky at points, we were just too lazy to transition back to ski mode. The pics are sequential & most are pretty obvious. Seeing a couple moose & 3 mountain goats only added to the wonderful day. This line still has a couple weeks in it - go get it! 

Route: Gibson Lake
Posted On: 12/13/2017, By: JosephG
Info: Because I know everyone's on the edge of their seat for this one. Snow from the Gibson Lake TH to the mountain. Floatation is not needed for the first 1.6 miles in the trees. It would be useful for the remaining hike (~0.7 miles) to Gibson Lake, although getting there without is certainly possible. Ascending Whale, there are a lot of cornices overhanging the gullies on either side, but it is possible to cobble together a route that avoids them. Give wide berth to the upper bowl to the north/north east of the final ascent from Gibson Lake--it has several gullies ready to go. Thursday's storm looks to add a few inches. 

Route: Straight On
Posted On: 7/9/2017, By: JColk
Info: We climbed the front face of the Whale as opposed to gaining the Continental Saddle because we thought it was snow covered. This turned out to be untrue. We class 2+ scrambled the Whale, and had a blast doing so, but I suggest taking the standard scramble! Summer conditions all the way to the summit with tons of leftover snow that might never melt. We saw a few people skiing. On trail by 9:30, off trail by 3:30. 

Route: Whale's Tail Couloir
Posted On: 5/8/2017, By: ajlavigne
Info: CR 60 is completely dry; FSR 120 is dry other than maybe two patches about 20 feet long. Stream crossing is the hardest part of the 4wd road - two larger rocks create a 'funnel' up the far bank; I wouldn't try this in my 2011 Escape, but our Pathfinder and Xterra Pro both did fine all the way to the Gibson Lake parking area. A few patches of dry ground, but 90%+ snow cover from the TH to the summit. Intermittent soft spots through the trees and once the snow heats up, so snowshoes were useful. Only one set of faint bootprints and faint ski tracks - didn't see anyone outside of our group all day except for a couple 4wd cars on the way back to CR 60. Signs of recent point releases and wet slide activity on Whale's Tail Couloir and surrounding area. Assessed snow at the base of the couloir, (pretty consolidated with a hard-pack about 8" down on the apron), and made the go-decision around 7:15. By 8 am, right before topping out, the snow was softening up, so any later and it could have gotten a little dicey. NE ridge off summit is snow-covered; summit and SE ridge are dry. Lake still completely frozen. 

Route: From Gibson TH
Posted On: 3/16/2017, By: emgordon
Info: Snow berm blocking the road about 3 miles from the trailhead. Very hard packed snow to ice covering the road, but we struggled to find the trail in the trees and turned around before the basin. From a distance, the ski lines look well filled. 

Route: Gibson Lake
Posted On: 10/20/2016, By: tjf242424
Info: Some snow overnight, so there was snow starting from the Hall Valley Campground. The trail was easy to follow all the way to Gibson Lake. From the lake, I travelled south and up to the saddle between Pt 12,733 and Whale Peak, then up the ridge to the summit. I carried microspikes, but never put them on. The snow was already melting below Gibson Lake on the way out. This one will definitely be in good condition this weekend. Note that the distance is 4 miles each way from the Gibson Lake TH, not from the Hall Valley Campground. The route description that I went off of was a bit misleading. 

Route: Hall Valley Approach
Posted On: 8/13/2016, By: jasayrevt
Info: Clear and very nice enjoyable trip w/ reaching summit. Great, beautiful 13er mountain. This quality, classic route is a unique undertaking and lightly traveled. Prime, excellent, and bluebird summer conditions up high for navigating slopes and ridge line extremely well. Trail runners and light pack were good. Climb safely / swiftly in the hills folks. Pictures included as beta 

Route: 
Posted On: 7/10/2015, By: JasonKline
Info: My Elantra made it to Georgia Pass from 285 just fine. The west ridge route was entirely free of snow.