[TR] Summit Chief - Standard 09/21/2019

[JasonG]

Trip: Summit Chief - Standard Scramble

Trip Date: 09/21/2019

Trip Report:

 

I'm normally not one to hike in and out in the rain, but desperate times call for desperate measure and the end of summer is one such occasion.  So, armed with a glimmer of hope in the forecast we marched in to Vista tarns last weekend with our sights set on Summit Chief and Little Big Chief.  The former was a Smoot and the latter, well, it looked cool.  Spoiler alert, we got the Smoot (straightforward Cl. 3 once you deciphered the description correctly) but not the little one, which proved to be more time consuming in late season than we had the desire for.  Still, the area has much to recommend, as you'll see in the photos below.  It isn't nicknamed Snoqualmonix for nothing- probably the most rugged terrain south of Hwy 2 is found in this area,  and not a lot of peak baggers....yet.  Judging by the summit register on Summit Chief, this area is rapidly becoming popular.  Going from 1-2 parties a year to 11 this year.  So, I guess, I'm part of the problem.  And so it goes.

 

Lucky shot:

East Face of Chimney Rock:

Summit Chief on the left and Middle Chief on the right:

Stuart and Waptus Lake:

Rainier, Chimney Rock, Overcoat Peak (L-R):

Summit of Summit Chief:

RIP Franklin:

Glacial recession is a bitch:

Little Big Chief:

We opted to scramble up here and enjoy the afternoon, rather than rushing to climb LBC and arrive at camp after dark:

Last dip of summer in an unnamed lake on the way back from LBC :

This one:

LBC:

Three Queens:

Bear's Breast (L) and Mount Daniel behind on the right:

Overcoat:

Chimney Rock and Overcoat in early morning light:

Chicken of the Woods:

Cooper River in the rain on the way out:

Gear Notes:
helmet, ice axe, crampons

Approach Notes:
Pete Lake Trail to PCT to Vista Tarns. We cam out the Escondido ridge "trail" but I wouldn't recommend going up that way.

[Bosterson]

Awesome! Great photos, as always. 

[Matt_Alford]

Wow!  Thanks for the tour!

 

[sepultura]

Great stuff JGAP!

 

[BrettS]

Fun times, and great photos!

[Rad]

Nice. Did you bring that chicken home and cook it up? Looks perfect.

[JasonG]

9 hours ago, sepultura said:

Great stuff JGAP!

 

There may have been Pink Floyd involved and us wishing you were here @sepultura!

And no @Rad I didn't....but it sounds like I should have?

[Rad]

9 hours ago, JasonG said:

And no @Rad I didn't....but it sounds like I should have?

Yep. It tastes like..................................wait for it..............................chicken.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laetiporus

[Szyjakowski]

Wow! Nice pics. What kind of camera?

cheers-Ben 

[JasonG]

14 hours ago, Szyjakowski said:

What kind of camera?

A D750 with the 24-120mm Nikkor f4 mostly.  I have a 20mm f1.8 that I brought on this trip as well.  Glad you like the photos!

[Szyjakowski]

Thanks 

i have a nikon too and love it- need a telephoto lens

Edited October 14, 2019 by Szyjakowski