View Lemah... Umm Chikamin... Umm Summit Chief in a larger map
Day 1: (July 14th) Darn those rivers
It sounded like a good idea, until the morning of at least.... We have still not packed, and the weather forecast looked a little bit worse than it did the day before, with 40% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms. Food for thought. Over breakfast, we contemplate our options and decide to change destination to something easier than remote class 4 rock and glacier, so we picked Chikamin Peak in the same area. Still remote, still should be beautiful, and at class 2-3 should be doable even if the rock would be a bit moist. Chikamin is the new plan.
We start packing after breakfast is finished (Coffee, toast, and leftover spaghetti which needs to be finished), leaving for the 2 hour drive at a very leisurely 9am, arriving at the trail head just before noon after a few gas and food stops along the way, including some delicious muffins at Roslyn. The map shows the trip starting with 6 miles along Mineral Creek, so should be easy going for a start, then some elevation gain to get up to Glacier Lake where we intended to camp. Overall a pretty manageable day.
However, we don't get more than 200 yards out of the car when we stand face to face with Kachees River. Whoops, there is no bridge, and it looks pretty deep. And a little bit on the fast side. Well, we can at least give it a go. Mid thigh into the water and most of the way across, I lose the grip on my hiking pole, and it is gone faster than I can blink. My pole!! Feet and legs are obviously cold, so I scurry across to get up on the other side to warm up my legs.
Susan probably looks at this thinking, mid thigh for him means mid butt for me. Brrrr, not going to do it. And that is probably the wiser of us talking. I came back to the beginning side, chose a bit of a deeper but slower place to cross this time and we were back where we started, minus one pole and some confidence.
Now what? Having done the research for the area, we knew that Pete Lake trailhead was not too far away and that the approach from there to Chikamin would not be too much longer either, and importantly should have a bridge for the one creek crossing.
We hiked in this way the 4 relatively flat miles to Pete Lake, with tons of campers and backpackers, and also tons of mosquitoes. Very pretty lake but far too many people and bugs for our taste. We continue on our way towards Chikamin, until we hit the next creek - and you guessed it, there is no bridge again. Aargh. How bad can it be this time?
There is a guy and his son sitting by the river telling us that an earlier party crossed it, but that it looked thigh deep. Without even trying, we decide not to do it since it does look deep and fast, and quite frankly, I'm not in the mood for another crossing. Someone is trying to tell us that Chikamin is not in the cards for this weekend.
So, being turned around two times by different creek crossings we decide to instead just have some lunch by the river and again contemplate our options. The river is nice and refreshing to sit by and there are no mosquitoes there. As we finish our cheese and bread lunch, Susan suggests a trail head camp for the night and a short hike tomorrow, while I'm thinking of pancakes at home and maybe a leisurely bike ride. Either way, it is a hike back towards the trail head. However, we don't get more than five minutes back on the trail until we meet two ladies asking us what we climbed... We somewhat sheepishly tell them we didn't climb anything, but that our intention was Chikamin but were turned around by the creek (you can still hear it). "Oh", they say, well "we're going to Summit Chief which means we don't have to cross it". Summit Chief(!) we think and look at each other. As we had sat by the river just a few minutes ago, we had actually been thinking of that as an option, but didn't have a map for it. "Well, I have two copies of the map, you can have one" volunteers one of the ladies (Sherri). We talk a bit more to them and find out they are from Portland area, just up for the weekend. In the end we are still undecided about whether to pursue Summit Chief, given that we just kind of decided to turn back to the car so we let them go on as we contemlate the situation a bit more.... Waiting a bit, and thinking it over for a few minutes, we decide to actually do it, given that we'd have access to a map. Summit Chief it is for the weekend, and no creek crossings! What a crazy day it has been do far, but this will be a good destination.
Given that it is late in the afternoon we don't have much time to get to the intended camp. We have about 5 miles and 2500 feet to gain before arriving at our new intended camp, which we pretty much have to reach in order to try for the summit tomorrow morning.So off we go, initially next to the uncrossable creek (Lemah creek) and then we start gaining elevation switch-backing up the hill. We soon catch up to our map donors, and pass them as they stop to get some water. Some amazing views of our original original goal of Lemah Peak and of waterfalls running off from Chimney Rock across the valley.
It is 8 o'clock when we finally reach camp. It is nestled in between tarns, which are still snow covered, but we have bare rocks to sit on and a flat newly dug tent platform in the snow. Nice views of the sunset over Chimney Rock to boot! Ramen noodles for dinner, and then sleep, which as usual is very very good.
We hear the two ladies from yesterday talk as they walk past our tent at 7am, saying "They must be camped around here somewhere". We had seen them from rather far away last night just after dinner as they got into camp late, using headlamps. Bed had seemed more interesting than a chat at that point in time and I'm sure they had the same "food and sleep" goal in mind late in evening as well.
As I peek my head out of the tent it is clouded in, misty and a bit moist. Not exactly my cup of tea for a Sunday morning, but I get out to make some breakfast (the standard oatmeal and raisins), and bring it back to the tent. After it is finished Susan and myself look outside again, and decide to have an additional nap, waiting for some better weather.
8:30 comes by and most of the clouds have dissipated with the sun hitting the tent - this is our natural alarm clock! Half an hour later we are ready to go towards Summit Chief. It is a hike along a ridge on rock and or snow for the first mile or so, wonderful views along the way and easy going. Some buttresses then force you down right to flatter terrain, and making you regain some elevation to get up into a basin under the summit area. But overall it is easy going and we thoroughly enjoy the hike in the sun.
Now in the basin below the summit, we can again hear the two ladies above us on some talus and snow. One seems to be resting on the talus while the other one is kicking steps up the snow to the ridge. However, minutes later they are both back down by the talus again. We scramble up an old moraine towards them as they are coming down. We chat again, and it turns out one of them is not too happy with the steeper and loose terrain here (talus) so they are on their way down to camp again without a summit. However it is quite clear that the other one is itching to go climb the summit, especially now that it is so close by. So we ask her (Cloudy Sears) to join us for the scramble up while her friend waits among the rocks. It hits the spot, as her friend seems quite happy relaxing in the sun, and Cloudy is itching to get to the summit.
We take some talus and solid rock up to the ridge, then turn right up an exposed scramble along the ridge to the summit. Wow, what a nice view we're having. Only when we turn around, can we see the real summit is a bit higher and behind us. Whoops... But let's enjoy what we have and we can think about the real summit later on. We have some snacks and take in the views. Finally we follow Cloudy down to her friend, say good bye to them as they descend together and sit down for some more food, while we start plotting a route up to the real summit. We now have a bit more beta about the actual summit route from their print outs and trip preparation, and after the food we are determined to at least give it a go.
Only a few minutes of snow travel along a ledge brings us to a notch in the western ridge, which ought to be the way up. Only it turns out there is a steep snowfield blocking the scramble route on the other side of the ridge. It looks steep and hard and with a very very long runout, it is not our cup of tea for today. It has been an eventful trip so far and we're quite content with our "Almost a Summit Chief" peak.
We start packing after breakfast is finished (Coffee, toast, and leftover spaghetti which needs to be finished), leaving for the 2 hour drive at a very leisurely 9am, arriving at the trail head just before noon after a few gas and food stops along the way, including some delicious muffins at Roslyn. The map shows the trip starting with 6 miles along Mineral Creek, so should be easy going for a start, then some elevation gain to get up to Glacier Lake where we intended to camp. Overall a pretty manageable day.
However, we don't get more than 200 yards out of the car when we stand face to face with Kachees River. Whoops, there is no bridge, and it looks pretty deep. And a little bit on the fast side. Well, we can at least give it a go. Mid thigh into the water and most of the way across, I lose the grip on my hiking pole, and it is gone faster than I can blink. My pole!! Feet and legs are obviously cold, so I scurry across to get up on the other side to warm up my legs.
Susan probably looks at this thinking, mid thigh for him means mid butt for me. Brrrr, not going to do it. And that is probably the wiser of us talking. I came back to the beginning side, chose a bit of a deeper but slower place to cross this time and we were back where we started, minus one pole and some confidence.
Now what? Having done the research for the area, we knew that Pete Lake trailhead was not too far away and that the approach from there to Chikamin would not be too much longer either, and importantly should have a bridge for the one creek crossing.
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| Pete Lake |
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| Lemah Creek - too fast deep and cold for our taste. |
There is a guy and his son sitting by the river telling us that an earlier party crossed it, but that it looked thigh deep. Without even trying, we decide not to do it since it does look deep and fast, and quite frankly, I'm not in the mood for another crossing. Someone is trying to tell us that Chikamin is not in the cards for this weekend.
So, being turned around two times by different creek crossings we decide to instead just have some lunch by the river and again contemplate our options. The river is nice and refreshing to sit by and there are no mosquitoes there. As we finish our cheese and bread lunch, Susan suggests a trail head camp for the night and a short hike tomorrow, while I'm thinking of pancakes at home and maybe a leisurely bike ride. Either way, it is a hike back towards the trail head. However, we don't get more than five minutes back on the trail until we meet two ladies asking us what we climbed... We somewhat sheepishly tell them we didn't climb anything, but that our intention was Chikamin but were turned around by the creek (you can still hear it). "Oh", they say, well "we're going to Summit Chief which means we don't have to cross it". Summit Chief(!) we think and look at each other. As we had sat by the river just a few minutes ago, we had actually been thinking of that as an option, but didn't have a map for it. "Well, I have two copies of the map, you can have one" volunteers one of the ladies (Sherri). We talk a bit more to them and find out they are from Portland area, just up for the weekend. In the end we are still undecided about whether to pursue Summit Chief, given that we just kind of decided to turn back to the car so we let them go on as we contemlate the situation a bit more.... Waiting a bit, and thinking it over for a few minutes, we decide to actually do it, given that we'd have access to a map. Summit Chief it is for the weekend, and no creek crossings! What a crazy day it has been do far, but this will be a good destination.
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| Waterfalls running down from Chimney Rock |
It is 8 o'clock when we finally reach camp. It is nestled in between tarns, which are still snow covered, but we have bare rocks to sit on and a flat newly dug tent platform in the snow. Nice views of the sunset over Chimney Rock to boot! Ramen noodles for dinner, and then sleep, which as usual is very very good.
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| Chimney Rock in the sunset. |
Day 2 (July 15): Almost Summit Chief
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| Waking up for the second time with sun on the tent. |
As I peek my head out of the tent it is clouded in, misty and a bit moist. Not exactly my cup of tea for a Sunday morning, but I get out to make some breakfast (the standard oatmeal and raisins), and bring it back to the tent. After it is finished Susan and myself look outside again, and decide to have an additional nap, waiting for some better weather.
 |
| Looking towards the summit of Summit Chief, which for the moment is covered in clouds. |
Now in the basin below the summit, we can again hear the two ladies above us on some talus and snow. One seems to be resting on the talus while the other one is kicking steps up the snow to the ridge. However, minutes later they are both back down by the talus again. We scramble up an old moraine towards them as they are coming down. We chat again, and it turns out one of them is not too happy with the steeper and loose terrain here (talus) so they are on their way down to camp again without a summit. However it is quite clear that the other one is itching to go climb the summit, especially now that it is so close by. So we ask her (Cloudy Sears) to join us for the scramble up while her friend waits among the rocks. It hits the spot, as her friend seems quite happy relaxing in the sun, and Cloudy is itching to get to the summit.
We take some talus and solid rock up to the ridge, then turn right up an exposed scramble along the ridge to the summit. Wow, what a nice view we're having. Only when we turn around, can we see the real summit is a bit higher and behind us. Whoops... But let's enjoy what we have and we can think about the real summit later on. We have some snacks and take in the views. Finally we follow Cloudy down to her friend, say good bye to them as they descend together and sit down for some more food, while we start plotting a route up to the real summit. We now have a bit more beta about the actual summit route from their print outs and trip preparation, and after the food we are determined to at least give it a go.
Only a few minutes of snow travel along a ledge brings us to a notch in the western ridge, which ought to be the way up. Only it turns out there is a steep snowfield blocking the scramble route on the other side of the ridge. It looks steep and hard and with a very very long runout, it is not our cup of tea for today. It has been an eventful trip so far and we're quite content with our "Almost a Summit Chief" peak.
Again with a rather late start for the day, it is now mid afternoon and we have 10 long long miles back to the car. It is a beautiful hike to start with but pretty soon we're back down by the river, and then hiking in the forest as dusk is approaching. We hear something making noise close to the trail, and as we take a few more steps a herd of elk moves away into and across to the far side of a meadow. What impressive and large animals - it is incredible how they can be so quiet!
Coming back to the car at 9:20pm just before dark, and back in Seattle and Hing Loon in ID around midnight. Bed at 1:30am and a wonderfully restful day in the office the next day.
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| Elk |
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