Trip Report
Alpine Scramble - Chinook Peak
Nice cool weather day for this trip with top-notch Mountaineers!
Nancy Lloyd
- Fri, Aug 19, 2022
- Alpine Scramble - Crystal Peak (Mount Rainier)
- Crystal Peak (Mount Rainier)
- Scrambling
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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Road 410 to Chinook Pass is newly graveled for a long stretch outside MRNP, but is well packed with minimal loose pebbles. There may be some delays at times during the week. The approximate one mile of PCT we did from the Pass is in great condition. Lots of green growth in our cross-country travel, very few bugs in the morning.
Met 8:00 a.m. at Chinook Pass to beat the crowds and heat. It never did get hot, we even had a chilly breeze at the summit. High clouds allowed us wonderful views along the way, and a 360 panorama at the top.
My group was a perfect mixture of experienced and beginner scramblers! Along with some terrain challenges, they gained experience with route finding and weather watching. It didn't rain or thunderstorm, but at times the clouds looked a bit threatening in the distance.
It was a relatively short, but fun adventure. Our round trip was just under 5 miles, 5 hours (including brief stops and 1/2 hour summit lunch), and 1,600' gain. Not to mention a satisfying summit of one of the 100 Peaks at Mount Rainier National Park!
More photos:
