Find Nearby Peaks

Climbing and access information for this peak is on Page 255 of the book. Livingston Douglas pioneered the two new routes set out below. Updated November 2020

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Glide Mountain is located at the southwest corner of Copper Basin. It is a rugged peak when viewed from the Star Hope Campground. USGS Star Hope Mine

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New Routes by Livingston Douglas

Access

The Bear Canyon trailhead is located at the back end of the Star Hope Campground. There is a pullout for three vehicles. Park here(7,955 feet). The Bear Canyon Trail/FST-062 begins about 50 yards from the parking pullout in an open meadow to the left/south, where it is signed. Star Hope Campground is located 8.0 miles southwest of the Copper Basin Guard Station on the Copper Basin Loop Road/FSR-138 and 9.1 miles south of the north end of the Copper Basin Loop Road/FSR-138 where it has a junction with Copper Basin Road/FSR-135. Carry a hiking pole with you for these two routes as you will need it to complete the log crossing of Bear Canyon Creek and the stream crossing higher up.

Northeast Spur/North Ridge, Class 3

The Climb

Hike about 0.6 miles up the Bear Canyon Trail to a log crossing of Bear Canyon Creek. Cross to the south side of Bear Creek and continue another 0.2 miles on Bear Canyon Trail and cross a small feeder stream that comes down from the north face of Glide Mountain directly to the left/south. Leave the trail and bushwhack south then southwest up the right/west side of the small stream. There is a lot of blowdown early in this bushwhack. A shoulder soon emerges with easier going than the blowdown-clogged stream drainage.

Climb the shoulder south then southwest to tree line then scramble west-southwest up a section of rocky terrain to reach the north ridge. Stay close to the ridge crest and skirt numerous patches of hard snow to advance up the rocky, narrow ridge. Higher up, move right/west across a short patch of hard snow (I used an ice ax and kicked steps here) to reach snow-free terrain to the right/west of the ridge crest. Scramble up through loose scree to regain the ridge crest. Follow the ridge south in open, somewhat-steep, loose scree to reach the summit. There is a modest cairn on top. Cloud cover limited my views.

Northeast Ridge/Northwest Spur, Class 3

The Descent

Having had to wrestle with many snow patches on the ascent of the northeast spur/north ridge, I decided to descend the [mostly snow-free] northeast ridge/northwest spur. Choose your poison because the upper northeast ridge is pretty rough. From the summit, follow the narrow, rocky, steep ridge line northeast for several hundred feet down to a flat, forested section of the ridge at 9,640 feet. This upper section is a narrow, choppy mess of rocky blocks/towers. It was a struggle to keep it at Class 3. Descend/downclimb some minor chutes/gullies on the right/south side of the ridge to pass a few of the towers. Loose scree on the ledges and in the chutes/gullies make this a rather challenging affair.

Breathe a sigh of relief once you reach the flat, forested ridge section. Follow the [still narrow] ridge northeast then north with some minor ups and downs to a critical juncture at 9,540 feet. There is a small, minor ridge point here (shown on the USGS topo map). Descend left/northwest from here down the northwest spur, which is a rounded, somewhat ill-defined shoulder, to get back to the critical stream drainage and the original ascent shoulder of the Northeast Spur/North Ridge ascent route. Follow that shoulder northeast then north to get back to the Bear Canyon Trail at the crossing of the small stream. Follow the Bear Canyon Trail back to the trailhead and the Star Hope Campground.