Hike of the Week: Poe Mountain
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| A hiker enjoys tell-tale views on the way to Poe Mountain |
Poe Mountain
It’s worth ‘raven’ about!
by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin
September 29, 2006
Quick Facts
Location: Central Cascades, Lake Wenatchee Region
Land Agency: (US Forest Service) Wenatchee National Forest
Roundtrip: 5.4 miles
Elevation gain: 2,200 feet
Access: Take U.S. 2 beyond Stevens Pass to SR 209. Drive past Lake Wenatchee to FR 6500. Follow west to FR 6504 to the trailhead.
Green Trails Map: Benchmark Mountain- No. 144
Don’t be surprised while hiking this peak if a hoarse gronking breaks the silence of the wilderness. Look at the meadows and you may recognize a familiar shadow moving across them-a shadow belonging to the raven. In Northwest Native religions, raven is the creator. For students of American literature, The Raven is a classic. Seeing him on Poe Mountain is pure poetry in motion.
Poe is one of several peaks making up Poet Ridge. Whittier, Bryant and Longfellow accompany Edgar Allen. All are within the monumental Glacier Peak Wilderness and all of them provide spectacular backcountry opportunities. Poe is the easiest of the Poets to climb. Edgar Allen himself never stepped foot on this mountain, and it certainly is a long way from the busy streets of Boston and Baltimore. But like the poet, there is a certain mystique to the area. The views are intoxicating.
Fields of lupine and other wildflowers grace the steep slopes of this 6,000-foot mountain. Miles upon miles of unbroken virgin forests and high-country meadows can be seen to the north and west. To the south, the valley of the Little Wenatchee River lies directly below you. In the eastern horizon, range upon mountain range intermingles with the dry interior Columbia Plateau. A trip to Poe in any season may usher an urge to write. Snow-capped Glacier Peak, a 10,000-foot volcano, is the most prominent landmark visible from the summit and is an inspiration to any writer, poet or photographer.
You can get to the summit of Poe one of two ways-both short-neither easy. One way requires more than 3,000 feet of steep climbing, while the other follows a course of many ups and downs along the ridge from Irving Pass. It’s the preferred route, starting at a much higher elevation than the Poe Mountain trail. Once the initial climb to Irving Pass is accomplished, it is a wonderful ridge hike to the summit. The trail crosses sub-alpine forests and plenty of alpine meadows. Wildlife is often visible along the way.
On the summit, sit and soak up the sunshine and extensive views. Stay for a while to read, recite or write poetry. No matter what your plan, you’ll probably be under the watchful eye of the raven while on Poe Mountain.
