Route: Vesper Peak

A classic Cascades scramble with big payoff for relatively little technical skill required. From the Sunrise Mine Trail, cross Vesper Creek instead of heading toward Vesper Lake. A bootpath climbs steeply through heather, cedar, and rocky slopes before breaking onto granite slabs. From here, it’s straightforward off-trail scrambling: mostly low-angle rock, with light hands-on moves and easy routefinding. Stay on the central rib to avoid gullies (left) or exposure (right). The airy summit delivers commanding views of Del Campo, Gothic, Sperry, Big Four, and the Vesper Glacier dropping to Copper Lake.