Humpback Mountain? Never heard of it! It is on the south side of I-90 at Exit 47 at the Annette Lake Trailhead. It is visible from Silver Peak, across the valley, and also from Granite Mountain. Besides, I just liked the name. Humpback also has a long ridge to the summit that I found appealing.

On the trail, I met a volunteer trailcrew, and a party of Mountaineers going for Tinkham Peak and Abiel Peak. Since I had no information on a route other than what I could glean from the map, I headed to Annette Lake. After watching the Cutthroat trout swim in the shallows for a while, I bushwhacked across Humpback Creek and up some talus.

The talus was loose, wet, slick, and very mossy, making for treacherous footing. Moving over to more solid ground in the avalanche brush, I was soon soaked from head to toe. Eventually, I found a steep snow finger, and climbed that with crampons and ice axe. Looking back, the views of Annette Lake were spectacular. There were moments of a very deep blue. I looked for the Mountaineers, but never saw them.

Finally I reached the ridge at about 4,900’. Humpback’s summit was now about a mile to the North along the ridge. I stayed on top of the ridge when I could, but often had to drop a little off either side. The summit is the high point in the middle of the long ridge, 5,178’. I pulled my map from my pocket and it immediately deteriorated into 4 pieces. It was dripping wet.

Nearby Granite Mountain, 5,629’ was mostly in the clouds, but I could make out the Lookout occasionally. I had a great view of Silver Peak, 5,605’, and Abiel Peak 5,365’. Looking the other way to Hansen Creek, the view was horrible with logged areas and roads. The yahoos like to go there to shoot.

Not satisfied with my ascent route, I chose to descend a bit earlier and after easy going on talus for 200’, I found myself trapped in thick, wet, thorny avalanche brush. I spent two hours working my way down, often on my ass, always using the brush for handholds. My biggest fear was getting cliffed out. How easy this nightmare would be if this infernal brush was still covered in snow! Eventually I reached the talus again just north of Annette Lake. I was never so glad to see talus in my life! A quick crossing of the creek put me back on the Trail.

A much shorter easier route would leave from the first avalanche slope on the Trail, directly across from the summit. One could descend to Humpback Creek, and then ascend the talus up the other side, eventually gaining the ridge just South of the summit. This is a good early season trip, while there is still snow coving the basin, although there is high avalanche danger in the winter. The Mountaineers do this as an early season trip.