Mount Pugh

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Mount Pugh
Elevation	7,201 ft (2,195 m)^[1]
Location	Washington, United States
Range	Cascade Range
Prominence	2,801 ft (854 m)^[2]
Coordinates	48°08′35″N, 121°22′27″W
Topo map	USGS Pugh Mountain
First ascent	1916 by Nels Bruseth (first recorded ascent)
Easiest route	Hike (Class 2)

Mount Pugh (or Pugh Mountain, or native name Da Klagwats) is a peak near the western edge of the North Cascades, in Washington, United States. It is located approximately 12 miles west of Glacier Peak, one of the Cascade stratovolcanoes. It rises out of the confluence of the White Chuck River (on the north) and the Sauk River (on the southwest), giving it very low footings. For example, it rises 6150 ft (1,875 m) above the Sauk River Valley in just over 2 horizontal miles (3.2 km); its rise over the White Chuck River is almost as dramatic. The mountain is named "for John Pugh, who settled at the base in 1891." (Beckey 1996:88)

According to Fred Beckey, "Nels Bruseth apparently made the first ascent in 1916." (Beckey 1996:88) Earlier unrecorded ascents, including possibly much earlier Native American ascents, are possibilities, since the easiest ascent route is non-technical.

Mount Pugh is notable for having a long, steep standard ascent route that is nonetheless entirely on a trail (albeit one that becomes only a "marked scramble route...Class 2" near the top). (Beckey 1996:88) This is the Northwest Ridge, Trail Number 644, which actually starts in the Sauk River Valley on the southwest side of the mountain. The total elevation gain is almost exactly one mile (5,280 ft/1,609 m).

[edit] Notes

↑ The height is given in Beckey's guide as 7,224 ft (2,202 m); this height is from the USGS topo map.
↑ This prominence figure is from Jeff Howbert's Master List of Peaks in Washington and is based on the 7,201 foot height.