71. Redstone Peak, 5680' (S-C)

This is a climb and is serious in places. It can be dangerous without requisite skills and equipment.

Redstone is a challenging peak with considerable route finding difficulties near the summit. The car approach to this peak is complicated and the trail portion has deteriorated quite a bit in recent years. See Pigeon Peak. Yet it is doable if you are very determined. Redstone was named by an early exploring party for the reddish color on the slopes of the mountain

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Driving

See special note below for updated information. Check with ranger station in Enumclaw for road updates. As of 2012, the only road approach was to take SR 410 south from Enumclaw and turn right on FS 74 (about 3 miles south of Greenwater). In approximately 0.25 mile, turn left on FS 75. Follow FS 75 over Haller Pass and keep going until a junction with FS 7550. Turn south on FS 7550 and park at the blockage.

Route

From the blockage on FS 7550, bike for about 3.0 miles until the road becomes impassable to bikes. Leave bikes and continue on road, which is somewhat overgrown. At park border continue on old abandoned trail. This trail is hard to follow but is flagged in parts. It stays mostly in the forest on the east side of the West Fork of the White River. In about 1.5 miles from park boundary, come to the Northern Loop Trail. Turn right (west) and continue to the Lake James Patrol Cabin. From behind the cabin, hike east and across the flat drainage; ascend diagonally on the obvious rockslide to about halfway up the slide. You should be mostly in the trees. Ascend a second (less apparent) rockslide leading to a narrow gully at the tip. Climb a third rockslide and head toward a ridge at 5400'. At the 5400' level (almost at the ridge and northeast of the summit), do a level traverse heading westward (you will be on the north side of the peak on a steep hillside) until you come to a steep gully leading to the top. The gully to the top is on the north-northwest side of the peak. The last few hundred feet of the route is serpentine in nature with rightward changing to leftward and back again. 

Alternate route via Grand Park:  The topo shows an alternate route via Grand Park.  This is longer but it avoids all brush and downed trees on FS 7550.  

Comments

The maps in this guide show the road approach and the bike and hiking approach, as well as a close-up of the summit. Of course, you can do this climb without a bike, but it saves up to 3 miles round trip walking. It is possible that the road may be repaired, shortening the approach; though considering the extent of the washout, we suspect this will not happen. There is a short steep (often wet) section close to the top for which most people would appreciate a belay. Be prepared with adequate climbing equipment.  It is recommended to check with the NP Ranger to confirm that the foot bridge over the West Fork of the White River is intact.   

Special Note

As of 2017 the above route description is extremely difficult to navigate. FS 74 is more difficult to drive than in past years and there are more blowdowns on the bike portion of the route making it hardly beneficial to carry bikes in. Most importantly the route to the park boundary and the trail beyond the park boundary has considerable blowdowns making the trip virtually impossible in one day. Good friends described this portion as miserable. We suggest an alternate approach entering via Ipsut Creek (after 6 miles on the Carbon River Road) and reaching the Northern Loop Trail and going over Windy Gap and then to Lake James. From Lake James the route is unchanged. This is definitely an overnight trip. (Thanks to Gretchen Lentz and Gordy Smith for this update)

See CalTopo for roads and road tracks

Vital Statistics: Redstone Peak

• Skill: Difficult scramble

• Beauty: 5

• Effort: 10

• Round-trip distance: 15 miles

• Elevation gain: 3800'

• Total time: 11 hours

• Best season: June through September or first snow; best when snow free

• Equipment: Minimal climbing gear, helmet