Day Hike - Driveway Butte

8:00 am at a new location!

We will now meet at the Mazama Town Trailhead to the west of the Mazama Store.  This is to make carpooling to the trailhead easier as we cannot park all day by the store. At the Mazama crossroads intersection walk or drive under the sign for the "Mazama Country Inn and Mazama Ranch House" and turn immediately right into a large parking lot.  There are vault toilets on the west side of the lot.

This hike is offered as part of the Mountaineers 2015 Conditioning Hiking Series. Other hikers may also register on the understanding that this is quite a challenging hike that will require stamina and will be led at a moderate pace with an elevation gain of 3,030 ft in 4 miles. 

As the WTA report describes it, we will have a stiff hike up to an old lookout site providing splendid viewing up deep, glacially cut valleys ringed by glacially carved summits. On a clear day we should enjoy a majestic perspective of the West Fork Methow River, Early Winters Creek, Rattlesnake Creek, Robinson Creek, and Lost River valleys, pretty portals to rugged peaks and the Pasayten Wilderness. Melting out early, Driveway Butte makes a good spring high-country  hike that should be great also for enjoying spring flowers.
 
 We are advised to carry plenty of water and sunscreen. For early June we can expect to encounter some snow closer to the summit so if you have them it could help to bring traction devises such as MICROspikes to fix to your boots.

You are invited to carpool from our meeting place at the Mazama Store to the trailhead. This is west along the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20) for about 6 miles. 3/4 mile after mile post 176 turn right for the Klipchuck Campground (Forest Road 300)  and go a further 2 miles to the trailhead. This is located just before the campground entrance (elev. 2950 ft).   There is a vault toilet. Location of trailhead: 48.5983, -120.5137