Aug 2016 - Ascent from Alpental. Along with the Snoqualmie Valley, the Snoqualmie River, and Snoqualmie Falls, the mountain is named after the Snoqualmie Tribe of American Natives. Snoqualmie is a Salish word for the moon. The Natives that roamed the Snoqualmie Valley were known as the people of the moon. Left Gemma in bed and set off for the 50 mile drive to the start point at 6:00am. A ridiculously steep ascent that follows a creek bed, scrambling up beside dry waterfalls. Unrelenting until the summit; almost a kilometre of climb in little more than two and a half miles. Fabulous views of Mount Ranier for the entire walk, a hypnotic peak that truly dominates the scene.