Decided to get an afternoon hike in this afternoon, post my failed Mount Hood attempt two days ago, and Humpback Mountain has been on my list, as with some other South I90 peaks to the East of McClellan Butte.
This is a tail of three trails. I took the northernmost and shorter access point to the logging road 5510-120 and entered the hiking trail as it rounds the bend. The initial part of the trail is rough raw dirt and looks recently excavated. Once above this section, the trail climbs steeply through dense forest - seems it's been logged multiple times, and the trees are very thin, dense, and little light gets through this.
I pushed on and connected to the other logging trail access point up 5510-110, and continued upward. Again the trail is steep, lots of roots and fallen logs (all passable) just need to be careful with the footwork as the logs are slippery when wet. The trail is all dry dirt, carpeted in Douglass Fir needles. About a third of the way up this section, the forest canopy opens up and there are much larger trees spaced apart and a very interesting forest floor covered in young Douglass Fir trees ranging from 4' to 6' in height. Almost as if this were some special Fir garden.
The trail continues up steeply, but the grade lessens around 4000 feet. From here I encountered numerous talus fields and large boulders. This section of trail is quite beautiful, in fact, one of the most enjoyable trails I have hiked in a while. The trails follows the ridge, which becomes steep on the East side, the West side flanked by long talus fields. As the trail climbs to the summit, the small firs, boulders, and other plant make it seem like some natural Bonsai garden. This is truly a beautiful trail the remainder of the way up.
The summit is covered in large boulders, and the views are spectacular. I was alone at the summit of Humpback Mountain. All alone on the top and complete solitude. Amazing 360-degree views of everything. Rainier. McClellan. Silver, Tinkham, Abiel. Granite. Kaleetan. Snoqualmie. Guye. Thompson. Lemah. HiBox. Stuart. Caroline. Too many to list. I found the initial part of the trail a bit challenging until I warmed up. Expect some scrambling over rock and trees, but the upper section of the trail and views are so worth it - this is much better than most if not all of the hikes earlier than I90 milepost 47.
Snidely Whiplash - Nov 11, 2013 4:02 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 1987
From Railroad Shed
Long day. Tried to run the ridge to Abiel. Big mistake.
TimmyC - Oct 13, 2012 4:44 pm Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2012
Perfect weather, amazing views and wasp stings
Last day of good weather before the rain; perfect temps and a little wind. No one on the trail besides my party and a swarm of wasps (I was last in line and got four stings). The views from the top were amazing. My first time up, my buddies' umpteenth; now I know why they keep coming back.
belowfellow - Feb 16, 2011 11:23 pm Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2011
nice, quick, close to home
did this in a few hours, but was in no rush. nice day to be out.
Josh Lewis - Jan 12, 2011 2:24 am Date Climbed: Nov 14, 2009
A nice day trip out
I did this when it was snowy, but got to remeet up with some friends of mine.
Dan Winter - Aug 26, 2010 10:52 pm Date Climbed: May 2, 1998
Scramble
This was the first Mountaineers scramble that I was on that made the summit. I don't remember much except breathing heavy.
Bryan K - Oct 19, 2009 6:02 pm Date Climbed: Oct 29, 2007
Northwest ridge
MAde it up before the winds picked up and the weather blew in.
EastKing - Sep 6, 2008 9:53 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2008
Evening Hike
Did this has sunset hike with a local group of people called TNAB.
cascadescrambler - Sep 5, 2019 10:46 am Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2000
Saw no oneThe most exciting part of the day was running into a yellowjacket nest on the way down. Sped us up a bit.
markhadland@gmail.com - Jul 8, 2019 5:07 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2019
Humpback MountainDecided to get an afternoon hike in this afternoon, post my failed Mount Hood attempt two days ago, and Humpback Mountain has been on my list, as with some other South I90 peaks to the East of McClellan Butte.
This is a tail of three trails. I took the northernmost and shorter access point to the logging road 5510-120 and entered the hiking trail as it rounds the bend. The initial part of the trail is rough raw dirt and looks recently excavated. Once above this section, the trail climbs steeply through dense forest - seems it's been logged multiple times, and the trees are very thin, dense, and little light gets through this.
I pushed on and connected to the other logging trail access point up 5510-110, and continued upward. Again the trail is steep, lots of roots and fallen logs (all passable) just need to be careful with the footwork as the logs are slippery when wet. The trail is all dry dirt, carpeted in Douglass Fir needles. About a third of the way up this section, the forest canopy opens up and there are much larger trees spaced apart and a very interesting forest floor covered in young Douglass Fir trees ranging from 4' to 6' in height. Almost as if this were some special Fir garden.
The trail continues up steeply, but the grade lessens around 4000 feet. From here I encountered numerous talus fields and large boulders. This section of trail is quite beautiful, in fact, one of the most enjoyable trails I have hiked in a while. The trails follows the ridge, which becomes steep on the East side, the West side flanked by long talus fields. As the trail climbs to the summit, the small firs, boulders, and other plant make it seem like some natural Bonsai garden. This is truly a beautiful trail the remainder of the way up.
The summit is covered in large boulders, and the views are spectacular. I was alone at the summit of Humpback Mountain. All alone on the top and complete solitude. Amazing 360-degree views of everything. Rainier. McClellan. Silver, Tinkham, Abiel. Granite. Kaleetan. Snoqualmie. Guye. Thompson. Lemah. HiBox. Stuart. Caroline. Too many to list. I found the initial part of the trail a bit challenging until I warmed up. Expect some scrambling over rock and trees, but the upper section of the trail and views are so worth it - this is much better than most if not all of the hikes earlier than I90 milepost 47.
Snidely Whiplash - Nov 11, 2013 4:02 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 1987
From Railroad ShedLong day. Tried to run the ridge to Abiel. Big mistake.
TimmyC - Oct 13, 2012 4:44 pm Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2012
Perfect weather, amazing views and wasp stingsLast day of good weather before the rain; perfect temps and a little wind. No one on the trail besides my party and a swarm of wasps (I was last in line and got four stings). The views from the top were amazing. My first time up, my buddies' umpteenth; now I know why they keep coming back.
belowfellow - Feb 16, 2011 11:23 pm Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2011
nice, quick, close to homedid this in a few hours, but was in no rush. nice day to be out.
Josh Lewis - Jan 12, 2011 2:24 am Date Climbed: Nov 14, 2009
A nice day trip outI did this when it was snowy, but got to remeet up with some friends of mine.
Dan Winter - Aug 26, 2010 10:52 pm Date Climbed: May 2, 1998
ScrambleThis was the first Mountaineers scramble that I was on that made the summit. I don't remember much except breathing heavy.
Bryan K - Oct 19, 2009 6:02 pm Date Climbed: Oct 29, 2007
Northwest ridgeMAde it up before the winds picked up and the weather blew in.
EastKing - Sep 6, 2008 9:53 am Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2008
Evening HikeDid this has sunset hike with a local group of people called TNAB.