Forum Index > Trip Reports > Yakima and Naches Peaks 11-9-07
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Beave
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Joined: 21 Dec 2001
Posts: 276 | TRs | Pics
Location: Woodinville
Beave
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PostMon Nov 12, 2007 8:35 pm 
After checking the local pass cameras I came to the conclusion that the only place it was nice was down by Mt Rainier. BTW, great link for those seeking a view of the Olympics, Mt Rainier or the North Cascades is this air quality web site: http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/ (Currently out of service, not sure why) I had wanted to do Yakima and Naches during a Fall color time of season, but this seemed like the perfect fit of a trip since I had been on a 27 mile mountain bike ride the night before and wasn't feeling like waking up early or doing a bigger trip. I opted for Yakima first, and parked just SW of Chinook Pass at about the 5200' level in a gravel turnout. From this spot, I could look upslope to a false summit and the ridge I needed to gain.
Open travel through calf high shrubs and breaks in the trees brought me to the ridge just W of that false summit. I used short and easy gully to access the N side of the ridge where I ran into hard snow, but easy enough to travel. Passed another false summit staying on or on the N side of the ridge before finishing with what could barely be called a scramble.
Only took 30 minutes to reach the top. Nice large, flat rocky summit with great views of the surrounding area. I allowed myself some serious lounge time and picked up some trash left by morons. Looking over to Naches, I saw a steep looking ridge and snow filled gully just before the summit. Seeing how hard the snow was on Yakima, I had some doubts about including Naches in the day. Found out I had some cell service on the peak and called Randy to get some beta on Naches. His response was iffy, and after a bit of yakking on Yakima, I resumed lounge position.
Thirty minutes after leaving, I was back at my rig and wanted to further investigate Naches. I drove up and over Chinook Pass and turned around, getting a better view of the peak on the way back. Although looking at the snowy N slope, it still looked alot better than it had from Yakima.
Yakima:
I decided to go for it and parked at the uppermost Tipsoo Lake Overlook, directly between the lake and the summit. From my parking area, I headed straight up a grassy/snowy belt and worked through a couple minor obstructions, eventually gaining the ridge at 6300'.
Stayed on top of the ridge for just a short time before dropping to it's S side on a climbers path that eventually led me back up to the ridge top when the S slope began to cliff out.
Weather was moving in and this ridge is pretty exposed so the strong wind trying to blow me off was of added enjoyment. To top things off, I knew the dreaded "10' step down" was coming up. I found it, and it did offer some pause, but also provided good footholds and I was just happy to see it was not ice or snow covered. I was able to climb down it facing away and had no troubles, although anyone not comfortable with exposure/heights and scrambling should probably not venture this way. I would rate it a stiff Class 3 as is, but if it were just 5' higher I might say Class 4.
Now the summit was clearly in sight and the only thing I wondered about (snow hardness/steepness) turned out to be a non-issue. The slope did have poor run out, but was not as steep as I had thought and the snow firmness was easily workable.
Since this entire adventure had been started late, dusk was approaching so I didn't linger long. Back down the ridge and up the step I went.
Back to the car in no time once off the ridge, just in time for thick fog to engulf the pass area and make for an adventurous drive home.

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bobbi
stillaGUAMish



Joined: 13 Jul 2006
Posts: 8012 | TRs | Pics
Location: olympics!
bobbi
stillaGUAMish
PostMon Nov 12, 2007 8:44 pm 
great pics and TR up.gif .......like your boots pic! agree.gif

bobbi ૐ "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
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dicey
custom title



Joined: 11 May 2004
Posts: 2870 | TRs | Pics
Location: giving cornices a wider berth
dicey
custom title
PostMon Nov 12, 2007 8:53 pm 
Beave wrote:
Found out I had some cell service on the peak and called Randy to get some beta on Naches.
Sweet! I didn't know Randy was currently employed as the scrambler lifeline. I'll keep that in mind for future trips up.gif

I'm not always sure I like being older but being less stupid has advantages. http://www.flickr.com/photos/32121172@N00/sets/
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GeoTom
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Joined: 19 May 2005
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Location: Earth
GeoTom
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PostMon Nov 12, 2007 9:50 pm 
Nice up.gif

Knows literally nothing
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics
Location: Inexorable descent
Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostMon Nov 12, 2007 11:39 pm 
up.gif up.gif up.gif Words and pictures. I love it.

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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks



Joined: 13 Feb 2007
Posts: 7216 | TRs | Pics
Location: Stuck in the middle
puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
PostTue Nov 13, 2007 3:02 am 
Good to keep the double headers going even after baseball season has ended.

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wildernessed
viewbagger



Joined: 31 Oct 2004
Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics
Location: Wenatchee
wildernessed
viewbagger
PostTue Nov 13, 2007 10:33 am 
up.gif up.gif Good stuff !

Living in the Anthropocene
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Jeff R
Closet hiker.



Joined: 10 Apr 2005
Posts: 972 | TRs | Pics
Location: Everret
Jeff R
Closet hiker.
PostTue Nov 13, 2007 5:21 pm 
Great report! Thanks for the memories Beave! Those summits were a 2 hour trip to the summit from our house in Selah, Been up both more times than I can remember, good times and good views!

Ebrace life!
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wolfs
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Joined: 07 Oct 2004
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wolfs
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PostTue Nov 13, 2007 6:50 pm 
dicey wrote:
Sweet! I didn't know Randy was currently employed as the scrambler lifeline. I'll keep that in mind for future trips up.gif
Randy: it appears that 1-800-SCRAMBLE (1-800-727-2625) is available, last registered to a defunct pharmaceuticals company from St Louis, MO circa 2000. Or, for faster monetization, 1-900-SCRAMBLE is wide open. There's a business opportunity here. wink.gif

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MLHSN
What goes here?????



Joined: 09 Sep 2007
Posts: 1067 | TRs | Pics
Location: Wenatchee
MLHSN
What goes here?????
PostTue Nov 13, 2007 6:54 pm 
I would love to have had the job of the guy who climbed up all those mtn's and Pk's to place those survey pins.

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