With some considerate clouds keeping temperatures on the chillier side, I decided it was a perfect day to run to the summit of Wenatchee Mountain, or Microwave as most of us probably know it. This ‘run’ quickly devolved into a walk when my wavering motivation encountered the ready-made excuse that I needed to stop and take pictures for the purpose of this report. Fortunately, there was no shortage of lovely sights, with a variety of greenery and wildflowers along the way.
Snow has largely melted off the upper mountain but for the shadiest hollows and the (formerly) deep drifts below the lip of Windy Ridge, making for easy travel and excellent trail conditions. There are no snow crossings and just a couple wet spots on the Summer Road (the recommended, well-graded route to the top of the resort). I made for the top of Chair 2 before traversing Windy Ridge toward the Microwave tower, drinking in the scenic panoramas.
Mission Peak has just a couple snow patches remaining, while the Enchantments retain a significant snowpack even on their southern aspects, and of course Rainier and Glacier Peak are still blanketed in their magisterial white coats.
Lupines dominate the wildflower scene from top to bottom as we enter meteorological summer, making for some excellent views as they are accentuated by a range of other flowers.
Along the ridgeline, there is currently an abundance of small alpine plants that possess numerous, disproportionately-large seed pods that caught my attention. My friends over at ChatGPT have informed me that this is a species of milkvetch, though I cannot independently verify this claim.
I retraced my steps along the ridge before descending via the Summer Road back to the Base Area, feeling grateful for the cool weather.
Speaking of cool weather, this weekend’s forecast is looking like a sharp deviation from the warm, sunny days of the last month. There’s a chance of rain each day, though the volume of precipitation is expected to be minimal. Friday night, there’s even an off-chance that a dusting of snow might hit the top of The Ridge! As a lover of cool running weather and good air quality, I’m looking forward to taking this opportunity to get outside, but do make sure you’re prepared for unseasonably cold and damp conditions if you plan on adventuring in the high country this weekend. If you finish exploring and want a warm, dry place to grab a meal, Chair 5 Pub’s thus-far-underutilized indoor seating area is ready and waiting. We’re looking forward to it.
Base Area Forecast
Friday 6/20: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Breezy, with a west wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
Saturday 6/21: Rain likely, mainly after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 48. West wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday 6/22: A 50 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 56. West wind 3 to 5 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Chair 5 Pub Schedule
Summer hours are Fridays from 4pm–9pm, Saturdays from 11am–9pm, and Sundays from 9am–2pm. We’re looking forward to hosting Line Dancing Lessons for the first time ever on Friday, 6/20! Our instructor, Toby, will get things rolling at 6pm.
No chairlifts will run during the off-season.
Off-Season Access PolicyÂ
During the off-season, public access within the Mission Ridge Special Use Permit area is permitted except where restricted due to maintenance and construction. We love seeing the Mission Ridge community in the mountains and on the trails year-round, but please make sure to check out the full access policy by clicking the link below.
