Mount Index

Mount Index is a sharply sculpted peak in Washington’s central Cascades that rises abruptly from the Skykomish valley, making it one of the most dramatic landmarks on the range’s western edge. Its three pointed spires, especially the steep North Peak and the southern main summit, give it an outsized presence despite its relatively low elevation compared with deeper Cascade summits. Climbers usually approach the main peak from Lake Serene, while North Peak’s standard line is the technical North Face Route. The main summit’s first recorded ascent came in 1911, North Peak’s in 1929, and the mountain and nearby Baring Mountain exchanged names in 1917.

Index, Washington · United States