Trip Report
Winter Scramble - Middle Chiwaukum
North and Middle Chiwaukum attempt.
Rodica Manole
- Sat, Mar 2, 2019
- Winter Scramble - Middle Chiwaukum
- Middle Chiwaukum
- Scrambling
- Turned Around
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- Snow and ice on road
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Strong group of 8 attempted North and Middle Chiwaukum. Given worse than expected weather, slow progress due to soft snow pack, whiteout, single digit wind chill temps we were able to tag North Chiwaukum only (in below freezing temps). We didn't see Middle Chiwaukum the whole day.
White Pine Road is plowed all way to the Cascade Meadows Camp and we were able to park outside of the gate. We snowshoed the rest of the closed road all way to the White Pine TH. Gaining the ridge was brutal given the soft snow pack which significantly decreased our progress. No views as we popped on the ridge. Despite dealing with the windy, below freezing and whiteout conditions, we were able to summit North Chiwaukum in about 6 hours. The temps and wind were brutal (some participants had frostbite concerns) and we decided to call the day good and get down in sheltered area ASAP. No doubt, it wasn't the right day for a Middle Chiwaukum attempt (hidden in the whiteout the whole day). Coming down was more challenging than expected especially for the last 2500 ft due to unconsolidated snow pack on very steep terrain. We all made it down safely in about 4.5 hours.
Will go back someday in a future season and better weather window.