How steep is the 4x4 road to Mount Leecher in Washington?
Mount Leecher is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1,531m (5,022ft) above sea level, located in Okanogan County, in the US state of Washington. The road to the top is a 7.9 km (4.9 miles) unpaved spur branching off the NF-4150 road in the North Cascades.
| Road facts: Mount Leecher (Okanogan) | |
|---|---|
| Location | Okanogan County, Washington (USA) |
| Elevation | 1,531 m (5,022 ft) |
| Length | 7.9 km (4.9 miles) from NF-4150 |
| Surface | Deep Sand and Sharp Gravel |
How long is the road to Mount Leecher?
The 7.9 km track is a dead-end road that hasn't been graded in years. The surface has fine, powdery sand and embedded rocks. As the elevation increases, the sand gets deeper. The final mile is the most demanding sector; the ruts are deep enough to high-center a standard SUV.
How demanding is the road to Mount Leecher?
The loose sand is the biggest threat. There are no guardrails and the drops are steep. Fallen timber is a frequent obstacle in the Okanogan forest; a single windstorm can block the entire road with massive pine trees. Carrying a chainsaw is required if you don't want to back down the entire mountain.
Is the road to Mount Leecher open in winter?
Snow buries the road from late October until at least June. It is never plowed. Even in the middle of summer, a sudden thunderstorm can turn the sandy surface into a slick, muddy slurry. In late spring, deep snowdrifts often survive in the shaded corners.
What is at the summit of Mount Leecher?
The summit hosts a fire lookout tower from 1954 and the remains of an older "crow's nest" built into a pine tree in 1918.
Pic: Rich N