June 14, 2009, Chinook Pass, Pk 6567
6/14/09
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
2751
7
Beautiful day up at Chinook Pass on Sun. Much warmer and sunnier than expected. The drive up had me and Brenda wondering if the weather was going to skunk us again, but near the Crystal turnoff the clouds started to show patches of blue, with steady improvement the higher we went. We parked on the east side and decided to head directly to Pk 6567 in the hopes of beating any afternoon weather that we expected might roll in. I love skiing this peak. It always looks so steep on the approach, but the line down the middle of the northwest face is so perfect, and always skis so well. This day was no exception. The usual dirt patch to skiers right of the gut is already showing, but really not an issue. Usually we do a lap on the backside, but dark clouds to the south and dirt patches near the top had us out of there right away. Heard some thunder on the return trip. Got a run off the corniced ridge of Naches into the east bowl to finish the day. Brenda had never skied from that spot before. Very nice.
Good info, Michael.
Good TR; Great pics.
Looks to be some skiing left at Chinook.
Good TR; Great pics.
Looks to be some skiing left at Chinook.
third picture, ski pole is straddling my track from the day before. Still lots of good skiing up there.
We were wondering if those tracks were from the day before, as there was nobody back there yesterday. I remember telling Brenda that back in the olden days :) there'd be people all over the place on a weekend day in June. Maybe the weather had people scared off. The bridge on hwy 169 isn't helping either, but we discovered 167 south from Renton to 164 is about the same as before.
author=md2020 link=topic=13640.msg56908#msg56908 date=1245086689]
Usually we do a lap on the backside, but dark clouds to the south and dirt patches near the top had us out of there right away. Heard some thunder on the return trip. Got a run off the corniced ridge of Naches into the east bowl to finish the day. Brenda had never skied from that spot before. Very nice.
Hi Michael,
By backside do you mean the east/NE slope that has the steep rollover? I've looked down that but have yet to try. Looks to have some great potential. I still want to get down to that stuff south of Cougar Lake (i.e. Pt. 6624), too. When oh when.
J
author=John_Morrow link=topic=13640.msg56924#msg56924 date=1245106584]
By backside do you mean the east/NE slope that has the steep rollover? I've looked down that but have yet to try. Looks to have some great potential.
We usually like to do a run down the main NE face then boot up to the saddle due north of the summit. That's where we ski into the "backside". Once that's done we're committed to another summit run on the way out.
Stupid question time: where exactly did you park, and what is the approach to 6567?
I've done laps on Naches Peak before, parking almost immediately adjacent to the snow.
Looking at the topo map, seems possible to park there and traverse kind of E-SE to 6567 (skirting to the north of Naches Peak along the way).
Or is it possible to park further to the south along that hairpin turn in 410, then traverse almost due east? (The topo map, or at least the downloaded overlay, shows a "Naches Loop" hiking trail for the first half of this.)
I've done laps on Naches Peak before, parking almost immediately adjacent to the snow.
Looking at the topo map, seems possible to park there and traverse kind of E-SE to 6567 (skirting to the north of Naches Peak along the way).
Or is it possible to park further to the south along that hairpin turn in 410, then traverse almost due east? (The topo map, or at least the downloaded overlay, shows a "Naches Loop" hiking trail for the first half of this.)
Jonathan,
You are correct in access assesment. I do find it easier once past Naches peak and saddle to cross over the ridge to it's south side to gain access to the Goat trail going up 6567 which we(Tacoma mountaineers) call "Robo " For RObie and BOb Nitzinger. Of course many here have thier own special names for 6567 . It's a fun ski . Don't forget to get some hero pictures with the camera to east of the skier with Rainier in the background . Like this or maybe better.
You are correct in access assesment. I do find it easier once past Naches peak and saddle to cross over the ridge to it's south side to gain access to the Goat trail going up 6567 which we(Tacoma mountaineers) call "Robo " For RObie and BOb Nitzinger. Of course many here have thier own special names for 6567 . It's a fun ski . Don't forget to get some hero pictures with the camera to east of the skier with Rainier in the background . Like this or maybe better.
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