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East Face

5.3, Trad, Alpine, 3 pitches, Grade IV,  Avg: 2.6 from 5 votes
FA: Forest Farr, Art Winder, Laurence Byington (1930)
Washington > Central-W Casca… > Western Alpine… > Chimney Rock

Description

Approach:
Follow Pete Lake Trail past the lake and through Lemah Meadows to the PCT. Follow the PCT North until the first switchback. From here, head into the vine maple and through the old avy swath to the forest on the other side. From there proceed through blowdown to the river and cross. After crossing, look for flagging and a cairn that mark the beginning of the climber's path. The path is hard to follow in places, but flagging can be found in most areas to help guide you along. Good campsites on flat-topped boulders with abundant water can be found in both the basins at 4600 and 4800 respectively.

From either camp, make your way onto the glacier below the summits of Chimney Rock and work up to the obvious "U Notch" on the south side of the South Peak. From the notch, ascend slabs to the first large ledge and make your way across a series of vegetated ledges on the east face of the south peak. These ledges are not obvious, but they go. Once you reach the area dubbed as "white rocks", climb up to the notch between the south and main peak. From here, pass between two gendarmes and find the reddish "key ledge" that leads you around the summit tower to the base of the East Face route.

Climb:

P1- Start up the vegetated, lichen-encrusted chimney to a belay stance below a slabbier section of rock. Low 5th cl
P2- Climb the exposed slabby pitch to a ledge and obvious belay. 4th cl
P3- Climb the obvious deep chimney to the summit. Low 5th cl.

Descend the route. Bring lots of webbing for raps.

Location

the heart of Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Protection

Gear to 3", lots of slings, and bring plenty of webbing to replace the weathered tat.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

ledges
[Hide Photo] ledges
Chimney Rock summit tower from "White Rocks"
[Hide Photo] Chimney Rock summit tower from "White Rocks"
Below the east face in a failed winter attempt dec 1993
[Hide Photo] Below the east face in a failed winter attempt dec 1993
summit after the east face direct sept 1990
[Hide Photo] summit after the east face direct sept 1990

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Ronald Malavotte
Wittmann, AZ
 
[Hide Comment] We started up the Pete Lake trail on Friday the 5th, left work early and camped by the lower glacier.. We climbed the peak on the 6th and came home the 7th. We were alone the entire time and the peak has some low 5th class followed by 4th class and low 5th class for the final of three pitches. We ascended the glacier until a steep gully which we ascended which is between the South and Main peak for around 600’, to a notch between the south and main peak. From there we climbed around to the East side and descended 50’ to a blind chimney by the main wall. Then you ascend up debris covered ramp to a big ledge which is level with the notch we were at where we descended earlier. From here we traversed right to the East Face. From here is where you have three pitches of steep exposed climbing on 4th and low 5th class. The summit has some incredible views and your alone. We did several rappels back down the route. We were glad we spent and extra night as this climb took around 7 hours R.T. from the campsite. Jun 4, 2020