Prusik Peak: West Ridge

The West Ridge of Prusik Peak is a classic alpine rock climb in the Central Cascades. The 20-mile round-trip trek turns most climbers away, but be prepared to see more than a few parties on this route on any given weekend. 

The prime climbing season for Prusik Peak is between May and September. Be prepared with crampons and an ice ax if you're planning on climbing during the shoulder seasons. 

Because overnight permits are so hard to obtain for the Enchantment Lakes area, most parties climb Prusik in one 20-mile day. Drop one car at the Snow Lakes Trailhead and drive another up to the Stuart Lake Trailhead. Starting the approach at the Colchuck Lake Trailhead knocks off a few miles and takes out a 1,000 feet of elevation gain. 

Approaching from the Colchuck Lake side also provides views of Dragon's Tail and Colchuck Lake along the way. It's easy to distract yourself along the approach with amazing views in every direction. 

The climb is mostly 5.5 climbing with a 15-foot 5.7 slab on the second pitch. Four single rappels off of the north side bring you down to the base of the climb. From there, you'll have 10-miles back to Snow Lakes Trailhead.