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zhong - Aug 10, 2022 2:07 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2022
Chikamin Peak from Chikamin Lake, down PCT and out to Mineral CreekTrip report
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2022-08-08.1033879780
From Chikamin Peak down south to PCT via a steep gully. Has a few tricky spots. We may have taken a couple of wrong turns.
Could avoid snow all the way to Chikamin Peak.
Beautiful scenery, many mosquitoes, very few people. Flowers along PCT.
drhoppins - Aug 1, 2022 10:32 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2022
Chikamin Peak via Glacier LakeHit this peak in the first heat wave of the season.
Approach:
Day 1- Cooper river trail via Pete lake TH and continued on the PCT towards Snoqualmie. Took the obligatory swim break at Pete lake, it was 85+ degrees after all. Overnighted at Spectacle lake 4200 elevation. ~11mi 1500gain.
Day 2- 8:30a start.
Picked the PCT back up (non-technical for my partner- there is a more direct bushwhacky route from Spectacle lake to Glacier lake basin from the west shore) and followed it to the ridge via a spur trail above Park Lakes Basin and dropped down the 300ft in 500ft into Glacier lake basin.
This is probably the most beautiful place I've ever seen. The glacier is still calving mini icebergs into the lake and the tall waterfall fed by the snowmelt below Chikamin ridge was above Hawaiian-grade. Another swim break and lunch stop (for the mosquitoes, too) before a 5-10min boulder hop at the north end of the lake marked by a large vertical monolith. Next to this is a cave-like portal opening up to a beautiful pool and stair-step waterfall.
A short meadow to another boulder hop at the base of the gully opens to a talus field followed by scree, heather and wildflowers squashed between the rock cliff and waterfall/creek. Absolute alpine wonderland... For me. My partner, not so much.....
This opens to heather meadows, snow, granite slab and scree with a choose-your-own-adventure-route to the ridge via the mix of your faves. My partner was terrified of the talus (first-timer) and grade, so the gully ascent took about 2x as long as I would have on my own (still slow by mountaineer standards, but I'm a noob and will never be fast).
We had our own airshow here- not sure if I was annoyed or awed by the fighter jets weaving in the cirque of the Lemahs/Four Brothers/Chikamin/Three Queens, but I got vids anyway #topgunkidforever
Gained the ridge at 3pm ish. Partner stayed on the ridge below the summit block to enjoy the breeze and lack of mosquitoes and declined ascending the summit block after doing all the hard work, due to safety considerations (or "Extreme Fear" in her words)
Summit block: Non-technical steep, slippery boot path and minimal Class 3 scrambling. There was a class 3/4 protected spot that took about 3 moves requiring the skill of climbing a ladder- good feet and big jug holds.
Summited at 3:10p- Didn't see a summit register or geo survey medallion. Looking northish was Glacier Peak and the Lemah chain running North/South so couldn't really make them out individually. Rainer and Snoqualmie pass resort to the south and 4 Brothers at the opposite end of Chikamin ridge, 3 Queens just beyond that to the SE, Mt Stuart to the East. What. A. View. It was a beautifully clear day, if a touch hazy from the heatwave.
Deproach- As fast as we could... The sun-eclipsing swarms of mosquitoes rendered both our 100% deet and sunscreen useless. We initially made the embarrassing mistake of trying to descend the south side of Chikamin ridge to the PCT immediately below it to avoid returning to the talus field that spooked my partner/BFF and ended up under 50+ degree goat meadow slopes at least 800+ feet below the ridge, staring horrified at a tree line with a 200+ ft rock face below it. I couldn't even get to a place where I could see if there was a protected down-climb, so we clawed our way back up to the ridge (wasting about 1h30min rt) and booked it back down to Glacier lake, now speeding to avoid getting eaten alive by mosquitoes and losing daylight (don't point out the obvious here...). Back at 10pm-ish in the dregs of twilight. The stars weren't quite out yet.
Not sure of the exact up/down gain or mileage since my phone batt was low and had to keep it off most of the time, but straight line camp to summit is 2800, with at least 1000 loss on the way up. Stringing the route lines on Gaia, 12ish RT miles with the goof- 11.4mi without.
Day 3- 10 mile slog out in the heat. I've done 20+ miles in a 3 day/2 night once, but not 30+, this made for painful legs/ankle/feet, but we were thrilled to get out without dehydration or injury. Of note, the Lemah creek crossing was about mid-thigh (I'm 5'3") this weekend at its deepest.
A few lessons learned this trip - including: have waypoints for every segment of the chosen route, headlamps regardless of planned mileage, LMNT electrolytes and Be-free filter (non-sponsored plug) are the bomb and you never know when you'll find one of the most beautiful places on earth, so don't forget your phone charging cord.
pnw4life - Feb 14, 2022 4:38 pm Date Climbed: Jan 23, 2022
January Summit of ChikaminDid a long day trip on skis up Gold Creek Valley, and transitioned from skins to crampons and ice axe around 5,600ft. We dropped our skis a couple of hundred feet from the summit, and scrambled to the top, and then enjoyed a nice ski down and a long exit out Gold Creek again.
ZakG - Apr 28, 2017 9:28 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2013
A Long, Lonely DayWe came up from Chikamin Lake after climbing Lemah, completing a loop back to camp at Spectacle Lake that was longer than we planned for. We made the mistake of gaining the ridge west of the peak and had to contour the steep south side right below the summit. If coming from that side, go up the steep snow to the notch east (left) of the summit. We saw absolutely no people back in there. No footprints either, unless you count the goats.
Redwic - Aug 23, 2015 11:58 am Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2015
Nice Peak!Paul's completion of the "Snoqualmie 20" list as well as his last hike prior to moving from Washington. Nice peak, although our loop route is not recommended.
thundercloud - Nov 16, 2014 2:09 pm Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2014
Futzy Route via Mineral CreekI really futzed this one up and didn't do much research beforehand. Took the Smoot beta and based on my GPS mapping, and Green Lakes map, I took the PCT to the slopes west of Chikamin Ridge. Finding no obvious route, I left the trail too far North along the PCT and worked up steep grass and loose rock of the westerly slopes and finally summited...the WRONG Chikamin. I wasn't the first to stand atop this knoll though, but I could tell that there was a higher point to the South. So I traversed on over and around and found my way to the correct top. From there, I tried initially to go down a new way semi direct to the PCT, but didn't enjoy it too much so I headed back up the ridge, and dropped down the other side. Managed to navigate well to find the route above Glacier Lake, which is quite the gem, and then hoofed it semi cross country back to the trail near Park Lakes, and out. More effort than expected, but all in all, much better than hanging out at the cubicle.
MarkDidier - Oct 27, 2013 10:12 am Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2013
Close But no Cigar!Went in Mineral Creek and went by the turnoff to Glacier Lake. This and a too conservative of a turnaround time cost me at least two hours. Made it up to the slabs below the saddle before turning around. I have posted a number of pics from my day on both the Mountain page and Glacier Lake Route page, which should help from a route finding standpoint.
The brush on Mineral Creek is as bad as advertised! The scenery around Glacier Lake is stellar, and worth the visit alone!
Matt Lemke - Dec 20, 2010 1:56 am Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2007
Climbed from Spectacle to Glacier and on to the summitMy very first "real" summit. This three day backpack in October 2007 took us to Spectacle Lake the first day. Then a cross country trek to Glacier lake and up Chikamin Peak. I didn't even have a camera at the time. The third day was back out in the rain. I managed to get soaked on both of the Lemah Creek crossings.
This was my true virgin trip and from this point on I have been "high on the outdoors"
gimpilator - Aug 17, 2010 11:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2010
Mineral Creek To Glacier LakeThis trip unexpectedly turned into a solo when my partner decided he needed more sleep. I started just after 5 AM and made decent time to Park Lakes. The views around Glacier Lake were very impressive. Above the lake I found a good swimming hole and a bit higher I hit the slabs. I followed the ridge to the scramble which was short and easy and well-cairned. It was exactly as etsnyd described it. I found that the "bunk bed" move is naturally protected by a slot wall. It was hot all day and the mosquitoes were ferocious but I didn't mind too much. New record for mosqy bites in one day: 34.
larryN - Sep 28, 2007 2:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2005
Glacier Lake RouteGreat trip except for soaking my boots going through the dewey Mineral Cr trail brush. About 18 miles, 6000' of gain, 13 hrs car-to-car
supermarmot - Aug 1, 2006 3:24 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2006
glacier lakeclimbed up before bed; great views
Snidely Whiplash - Feb 23, 2006 4:15 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2003
Route Climbed: From PCTThis is a long, hard day. My advice...Go to Glacier Lake and lose the elevation. We went south on the PCT to find the gully leading to Chikamin Ridge. Finding the correct gully is difficult from here, although most gullies ultimatley will work. The Mineral Creek Park trail is also very rough. After this trip, you will feel like you've traveled farther than the 14 miles that it is supposed to be officially.
tooloosealpinist - Aug 11, 2005 8:44 pm
Route Climbed: SW Slope Central Gully Date Climbed: August 9th, 2005Everyone else we read about takes the route around Glacier lake. Why drop from 5600' down to 4800' and then scramble 2200' to the top when you can keep that hard-earned altitude on the P.C.T. then climb a very direct thigh-burning gully to the summit? This was a very long 13+ hour day, but very rewarding. Only Chimney and Lemah are higher. Hmm, wonder how the view is from Lemah three...
(see our trip report & photo's)
Snidely Whiplash - Nov 19, 2009 11:12 pm
Re: Route Climbed: SW Slope Central Gully Date Climbed: August 9th, 2005I'll tell you why. Finding the right gully from the PCT is hard. It is very, very steep grass that is slippery and hard for your footing. If descending that way, your body takes quite a bit of beating on that steep grass. I have gone both ways, and it's easier to go from Glacier Lake.