Description

The North Twin Sister is a great ski tour outside of most peoples radars in the North Cascades.

Being the first alpine range on the Western side of the Cascades the view alone makes this trip worthwhile.

Now you may be wondering why this isn’t more popular and that is simply because of access.

The lower slopes are within logging country so that main road is normally gated making a long approach much longer.

But with a little bit of luck or with the use of a bike you can cut this down and in exchange find a north facing line with stunning views of Mount Baker in the distance. Heading up the Mosquito Lake Road make your way onto the Middle Fork of the Nooksack Road, before long you will have the turn off to Weyerhauser road 9000 where the gate is.

From here hike, bike or get permission to follow the road as it heads South towards the Northwestern base of the North Twin Sister.

At 4,100 feet turn off the road and start making your way up the West Ridge Trail.

Hiking up the well established trail follow it to 4.900 feet and drop east into the alpine slopes just below the rock bands on the North side of North Twin Sister.

Being in the alpine now you need to keep heading East dropping a bit of elevation until you are just above the forests then start heading Northeast gaining elevation until you arrive just below the Northeast chute.

From here make your way up the steep face either skinning or bootpacking until arriving on the summit.

Riding down once in the apron you need to make a hard traverse to the skiers left.

Wrapping around to the Northwest side you can follow the main gully for a bit and once in the flats of the trees start skiing back west.

Wrapping around the Northwest ridge you will be once again at the road and following it back down to the car. To see my trip in the area and more photos check out this link https://www.whereiskylemiller.com/mt-baker-542/north-twin-sister/