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Overview

At 7,201 feet and with 2,800 feet of prominence, Mt. Pugh is definitely a majestic peak. A 5-3 scramble, Mt. Pugh is a challenging and strenuous peak. There is a bit of exposure in a few places, especially on Knife Ridge, a very thin ridge with a massive drop on both sides that must be traversed to access the peak. Near the top of Mt. Pugh, there are some Class 3 sections that will definitely test your abilities. Mt. Pugh is located in Darrington, and is part of the North Cascades. The beginning part of the trail starts out easy, a hike on a trail through the forest. At 1.5 miles, Lake Matan is reached. This is a pristine alpine lake with many blueberries surrounding the lake. Game trails stretch to both sides. Farther up, at about 3.5 miles, the trail opens up into a massive boulder field. At the base of this boulder field are four giant rocks surrounding an open area. This is a perfect place to pitch a tent. Also, directly to the left of this area, there is a large slab balanced against one of the rocks to make a small cave-like area. While not very flat, this is an excellent area to lay out a sleeping bag with no tent needed. Views from the boulder field include Three Fingers and Whitehorse.

Directly ahead of this area is the beginning of a long and exposed scramble. Continue up a hill covered in wildflowers, following the thin trail if possible. While present in some areas, it fades out completely in others. As you ascend the hill, the wicked dagger of Sloan Peak becomes visible. When you reach the top of this beautiful mountain meadow, you will find yourself looking at Stujack Pass. It is a spectacular mountain pass, but the rocks are unstable in this area, so be careful not to stray too close to the edge. The Pugh Glacier is located inside Stujack Pass. Past the pass is the beginning of Knife Ridge. There is only about 3 feet of maneuvering room here, and hundreds of feet to plummet over to either side. There is no defined trail across Knife Ridge, and crossing it is not for those with a fear of heights.

Past Knife Ridge, the faint trail resumes. There are many off-and-on exposed portions or steps, including one point where an 8-foot-high rock step must be ascended to continue. The trail is thin, and there is little room for error, with a gigantic drop-off on one side and the mountain face close on the other. There are a few wiped-out portions of the trail, and caution must be used crossing these. If you know what you are doing, this is the best part of the scramble. The views are phenomenal. The final scramble to the summit is challenging, but exhilarating. The path up consists of mostly Class 3 rock. Looking out from the summit, you have a 360-degree panorama of the Cascade range. This is the best hike/scramble I have ever done in my life, and I would highly recommend it to anyone up the the challenge. There is 5,300 feet of vertical elevation gain, so it is very physically demanding, and completely worth it in every way.