Washington’s East Side
Beacon Guidebooks has partnered with onX Backcountry. Find guidebook quality content for backcountry adventures in Washington's East Side. Washington's East Side has 40 zones to explore and 280 routes.
Total Zones
40
Publisher
Beacon Guidebooks
Washington's East Side Overview
In 1897, John Stevens found the passage for the Great Northern Railroad across a 4,000’ pass in the Cascades. Since then Stevens Pass’ place in history is thick with decades of travel, avalanches, ski areas and so much more. Stevens Pass is one of the essential gateways to the extraordinary backcountry possibilities that exist between I-90, US Highway 97, and US Highway 2. Over 300 tours, accessible via ski areas, roadside pullouts, and long snowmobile approaches make this region's diverse opportunities seem infinite. The East Side also provides a drier, colder snowpack—bringing blower pow (and persistent slabs) to the Cascades.
Zones Covered
Argonaut + Sherpa + Stuart
Routes
9
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
N,NE,E
Any high-caliber weapon needs a big barrel, and the Cannon Mountain Couloir is the Howitzer of the Icicle. It’s so long and straight that it’s easy to forget about the enjoyable bowls and ridges. This is the core of the Enchantments and home to the high alpine peaks of Stuart, Colchuck and Dragontail. Steep couloirs, technical descents, and a few glaciers make this a classic spring zone. Situated deep in the wilderness, this zone steps the commitment level up to 11.
Routes
- Argonaut + Sherpa + Stuart Approach
- Stuart Lake Approach
- Argonaut NE Couloir
- Argonaut NW Couloir
- Sherpa NE Couloir
- Sherpa North Face
- Sherpa NW Couloir
- Sherpa Glacier
- Ice Cliff
Arrowhead Mountain
Routes
4
ATES Level
2
General Aspect
NW,N,NE
The Great Northern Railroad built a tunnel here to get through the Cascades and left the old growth glades intact for generations to enjoy. Go past the ridge and step into Jim’s World: big trees, big faces, big vert!
Routes
- Arrowhead Approach
- Arrowhead
- East Arrow
- Bent Arrow
Bean Basin
Routes
6
ATES Level
2
General Aspect
W
The Yakama called the Teanaway River Tyawnawí-ins, which means salmon drying place. It remains the dry side with open bowls, fun glades, and a few long couloirs, making this zone a winter powder mecca with a long approach typically achieved with a snowmobile.
Routes
- Bean Basin Approach
- String Bean
- J's East
- Mary's
- South Bean
- Earl Peak Chutes
Big Chiwaukum
Routes
3
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
NW,N
A giant path calls to you like a siren. Tread carefully and be rewarded, or be dashed into the rocks like the ancient Greek sailors. Chiwaukum is a Wenatchi word meaning “place where many streams come together.” The Chiwaukum Range offers some of the biggest non-glaciated alpine touring experience in the Cascades, giving you an opportunity to ride above-timberline bowls and chutes without a glacier kit (woot woot!).
Routes
- Big Chiwaukum Approach
- Northwest Couloir
- Big C Couloir
Big Jim
Routes
5
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
NE,E,SE,S,SW
A giant path calls to you like a siren. Tread carefully and be rewarded, or be dashed into the rocks like the ancient Greek sailors. Chiwaukum is a Wenatchi word meaning “place where many streams come together.” The Chiwaukum Range offers some of the biggest non-glaciated alpine touring experience in the Cascades, giving you an opportunity to ride above-timberline bowls and chutes without a glacier kit (woot woot!). Big Jim sits within the Chiwaukum Range, offering big vert in a remote setting. A local legend, Jim Jack spent some quality time opening up some of the steepest in the region, and we see why!
Routes
- Big Jim Approach
- Big Jim
- JJ Bowl
- Big Jim Jack Couloir
- Lake Augusta
Cannon Mountain Couloir
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
W,NW,N,NE,E
Any high-caliber weapon needs a big barrel, and the Cannon Mountain Couloir is the Howitzer of the Icicle. It’s so long and straight that it’s easy to forget about the enjoyable bowls and ridges. This is the core of the Enchantments and home to the high alpine peaks of Stuart, Colchuck and Dragontail. Steep couloirs, technical descents, and a few glaciers make this a classic spring zone. Situated deep in the wilderness, this zone steps the commitment level up to 11.
Routes
- Cannon Mountain Couloir Approach
- Cannon Mountain Couloir
Cannon Mountain Northwest
Routes
4
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
W,NW,N,NE,E
Any high-caliber weapon needs a big barrel, and the Cannon Mountain Couloir is the Howitzer of the Icicle. It’s so long and straight that it’s easy to forget about the enjoyable bowls and ridges. This is the core of the Enchantments and home to the high alpine peaks of Stuart, Colchuck and Dragontail. Steep couloirs, technical descents, and a few glaciers make this a classic spring zone. Situated deep in the wilderness, this zone steps the commitment level up to 11.
Routes
- Cannon Mountain NW Approach
- Northwest Face
- Hel Basin North
- Hel Basin
Colchuck Lake
Routes
6
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
N
Any high-caliber weapon needs a big barrel, and the Cannon Mountain Couloir is the Howitzer of the Icicle. It’s so long and straight that it’s easy to forget about the enjoyable bowls and ridges. This is the core of the Enchantments and home to the high alpine peaks of Stuart, Colchuck and Dragontail. Steep couloirs, technical descents, and a few glaciers make this a classic spring zone. Situated deep in the wilderness, this zone steps the commitment level up to 11.
Routes
- Colchuck Lake DT Approach
- Asgard Pass
- Dragontail Triple Couloirs
- Colchuck Glacier
- NE Couloir
- NE Buttress Couloir
Diamond Head
Routes
5
ATES Level
2
General Aspect
W,NW,N,NE,E
Blewett Pass is the gift that keeps on giving; sheltered, low-angle terrain make it a beginner’s paradise. Limited exposure in most of the zone allows for people to try meadow skipping and low-angle trees in dry conditions, even when it’s raining elsewhere. The crown of Blewett Pass, Diamond Head, sounds like a rock ballad—and it does rock, offering the longest, steepest runs as well as the most exposure in the whole area.
Routes
- Diamond Head Approach
- DH Central
- DH West
- Rock Slide Right
- Rock Slide Left
Eightmile Mountain
Routes
7
ATES Level
3
General Aspect