Mount Fernow
Stevens Pass AreaBest Mar–May
Six thousand vertical feet of skiing from one of Washington's ten highest summits, accessed by boat through Lake Chelan to the remote Holden Village.
About This Trail
Mount Fernow rises 6,000 vertical feet above Holden Village, delivering one of the biggest continuous ski descents in the Cascades from a summit that ranks among Washington's ten highest peaks. The route climbs from the abandoned-mining-town-turned-retreat at 3,228 feet to the 9,249-foot summit through forest, open basins, and a final knife-edge ridge with the Entiat Glacier dropping away on one side.
Access sets this tour apart from anything on a standard day trip list. Holden Village sits at the head of Lake Chelan, reachable only by boat on the Lady of the Lake ferry. Once there, the route follows an old mining road before breaking into sparsely gladed trees along Copper Creek. The upper mountain opens into a treeless apron, and the final push traverses a windward ridge to a steep headwall requiring crampons and ice axes. The northwest couloir, known as the Inferno Couloir, drops at 55 degrees and connects to 5,000 feet of skiing back down through Big Creek and Railroad Creek drainage.
Conditions on Fernow swing dramatically. Heavy snow years stack the apron with deep powder, but the upper headwall and couloir can hold bulletproof ice even when lower slopes run soft. Sluff management on the steeper pitches demands constant attention. The 14-hour round trip from Holden Village leaves no margin for slow travel.
Forecast
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
Scorecard
Safety & Considerations
Persistent Hazards
- 55-degree couloir with variable ice and snow conditions
- Knife-edge ridge with exposure to Entiat Glacier
- Sluff accumulation on steep upper slopes
- Corniced ridgeline requiring careful navigation
- Cliff bands on descent requiring route knowledge
- Remote location with no road access for rescue
Getting There
No road access to Holden Village. Take the Lady of the Lake ferry from Chelan to Lucerne Landing, then bus or shuttle 12 miles to Holden Village. Vehicle parking at the ferry terminal in Chelan. Contact Holden Village for current winter access and lodging availability.
From Holden Village (3,228 ft), follow the old mining road before breaking into trees along Copper Creek. Climb through sparsely gladed terrain into the upper basin. The final ridge traverse crosses a knife-edge with the Entiat Glacier to the south. Crampons and ice axes required for the steep headwall below the summit. Route is 12 miles round trip with 6,000 feet of elevation gain.
Start well before dawn from Holden Village. The 14-hour round trip demands efficient transitions and good fitness. Time the descent for optimal corn conditions on the upper apron while allowing enough daylight for the forested return to the village.
Similar Hikes
