Abernathy Peak | WA100: Peak 3/100
#WA100Project
Abernathy Peak is located on the traditional lands of the Nlaka’pamux, Methow, Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, and Syilx (Okanagan), among other Indigenous Peoples, past and present.
A mid-spring solo climb up this 8321-foot peak, situated along Abernathy Ridge and above Scatter Lake, and accessed via the Twisp River area along the Cascade’s east slopes.
I started from the Trailhead dark and early. At 1:30 a.m. to be exact. My hope was to catch sunrise from the upper section of the mountain where the surrounding mountain layers unfold.
Staring up at a sky full of stars following my early alpine start up Abernathy Peak.
Under a sky full of stars, I quickly made my way up the Scatter Creek Trail, which reaches Scatter Lake in just over four miles and 3,850 feet of elevation gain.
Just past 4 a.m., I arrived at the partially ice-covered Scatter Lake and laid eyes on my objective reflecting in the open water.
I then wrapped around the lake’s north shoreline and began the final 1200-foot ascent, aiming at the summit situated at the head of the upper basin cradling the lake.
Within the last thousand feet to the summit, view of the mountains and ridge lines to the east and south unfolded in the pre-dawn light. To my surprise, the sky was quite hazy from (what I’d later learn were) wildfires in British Columbia.
Around 8200 feet elevation, I was directly east of the summit proper, just a few hundred feet away. I transitioned from snow to scree/talus, class 2 terrain. Within minutes I found myself on the highest point standing next to the summit register.
The summit register for Abernathy Peak.
Summit views looking northwest toward Silver Star Mountain, a 8876-foot Bulger peak that I’d go on to climb almost one year later, in April 2024.
Summit views looking south-southwest toward Reynolds Peak, yet another Bulger peak. Between Reynold’s twin summits, the left (southeast) peak is the proper highpoint, which I’d later reach in the fall of 2023.
After a short stay on the summit, I turned around and quickly descended the upper basin, plunge stepping where the snow allowed. Back at the lake, I stopped at the outlet for one last glance and photo of the peak. From the lake, my hike out transitioned from snow back to dry trail lined with lush greenery and wildflowers.
NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT:
During this project, I will collaborate with local and national nonprofit groups to spread awareness, to fundraise, to highlight their mission and programs, and sometimes to join representatives of these groups in climbing. My nonprofits will include groups that serve women in the outdoors; Black, Indigenous, and People of Color climbers; LGBTQ+ adventurers, and other underserved and underrepresented group members.
Washington Trails Association (WTA) mobilizes hikers and everyone who loves the outdoors to explore, steward, and champion trails and public lands. Through its “Trails for Everyone” initiative, it’s fighting to create safe, welcoming, and inclusive experiences on trail. Because trails and access to the outdoors are a must-have.
THE WA100 PROJECT
Over the 2023-24 climbings seasons, Scott Kranz is embarking on a personal journey to climb and document Washington state's 100 highest peaks. These summits are all in the Cascades, the mountain range that transformed his life. His aim behind this project is to celebrate the ways in which we connect with our local landscapes while also giving back by uplifting and supporting the outdoor community and organizations that strive for inclusivity and accessibility in outdoor spaces.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Scott Kranz is a full-time outdoor photographer and filmmaker based in Seattle. Born and raised in Minnesota, Scott moved to Washington State in 2013 and first explored the Cascade Range, which sparked a lifelong love of outdoor adventure and photography. Since, he’s come to partner with some of the world’s leading brands and shot on all seven continents.