bremerton_john Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 Trip: Burke Range - Chimney, Bi-C, Watterson, Crystal - East fork Quinault Date: 7/7/2014 Trip Report: On July 7-14 four of us made it back up to the Burke Range for another round of fun. We had last been thwarted by a party member getting a stick in the eye a few years ago in the lower forest of Chimney Peak. This year we were succesfull in the attempt. Our approach was via Pyrites Creek, up and over the 5840 ft pass adjacent to Pk 6049, around the basin in upper Godkin and up the south flank of Chimney Peak. Chimney Peak offers such lovely views. A walk down to the tarn immediately to the north made a great camp, and the evening scramble up Bicentennial was quite nice. We had what we thought were good views of the Gnarly Ridge ahead (Dane Burke's aptly descriptive term for that portion of the ridge). Our plan had been to rap down the snow gulley at that point into the basin below Watterson. The Olympics have a relatively low snow pack and we could not see a continuous-enough line to rap into from this vantage point. In hindsight we should have spent the couple hours to traverse over to the ridge and we would have discovered that indeed the rappel would likely have gone without trouble. Instead we opted to descend the north snow chute between Chimney and Bicentennial. Unknown descents into waterfalls and cliffs spiced up the day. Once sufficiently down we turned the corner and went up to the tarn below Watterson, another lovely camp. Next day it was Crystal Peak and back to camp at the tarn. Our exit route was a fairly spirited descent off Gnarly Ridge and down Anderson Creek. I think there were 7 brushy rappels involved. Camp on the Quinault and out. View looking south from Chimney Peak towards 6049 View looking north from summit of Chimney Peak Lego-climber dude on Chimney Peak "The Chimney" on Chimney Peak. Walking down to the tarn below Chimney An enchanted and threatened chalet so far down below Old Snowback (aka Chimney Peak) Watterson and tarn below Descent chute Hmm, waterfalls Brushy raps Looking south to Bicentennial and Chimney Peak Crystal Peak and Upper Crystal Lake Gear Notes: Bring a rope, preferably two, if you decide to descend the way we did, which I don't recommend. Approach Notes: No easy way into this place. Pyrites and up and over 5840 ft pass probably best option. Once on Chimney give the Gnarly Ridge a look and if the season is early enough there should be a good rap down into the basin below Watterson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairweather Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Amazing trip, I'm jealous. Not too many folks venture into that area. Any truth to the rumors about giant quartz crystals lying about on Crystal Peak? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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