[Gimpilator]

Short Version: We got to talking and the next thing we knew we were at the summit. :>)

Big C and meadow

saddle on west spur ridge

Snowgrass and Grace Lakes

Big C

lazy bums

Where do I find these hiking partners?

Long Version: Fletcher, Michael and I started at the White Pine Creek trailhead at 8:15 am this morning and hiked up to the first trail junction bearing left. After roughly 6 miles we came to another unofficial trail junction and turned left again which led to the nice open basin west of Big C's summit. We worked our way up to the saddle at 6750 on the western spur ridge and then followed that up to the upper main Chiwaukum Mountains ridge crest.

Fletcher on the false summit

12 labels

summit spire (click for annotated route)

key ledge

summit

We traversed the main ridge north, staying west of the crest and just below it. At several points we descended slightly to avoid technical terrain. There was one unavoidable class 4 move on our selected route and a second class 4 move near the summit which was avoidable during the descent. We took a lot of leisurely breaks throughout the day and came back to the car at 7:15pm. Big Chiwaukum is the 27th most prominent peak in WA and this route is about 17 miles round-trip. :>)

[Magellan]

Burly!

[puzzlr]

That key ledge looks cool -- is that a huge cairn on the skyline?

[Gimpilator]

It was cool, and yes I think so. There were virtually no cairns on the route until the very end and then we saw a few at critical locations.

[Fletcher]

Really fun trip that wasn't on my radar at all. Good call Gimp!

[wildernessed]

[Distel32]

[HitTheTrail]

Nice area. Thanks for the reminder. I am thinking of doing a White Pine-Chatter Creek thru hike after it cools down a bit. Do you think there will still be water on the Chiwaukum stretch in the fall?

[Bryan K]

Sweet trip!!!!!

[Gimpilator]