Trip Date: April 1977
Chumstick Snag Rock-Climb
Spromberg Canyon
Southwest Face Route (Class 5.4, A1)
Southeast Route (Class 5.7)
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Chumstick–Swakane Mountains
Locale: Leavenworth, WA
Setting: Spromberg Canyon
Starting Point for Approach: Spromberg Canyon Road near Spromberg Creek Bridge (Elev. 1400 feet)
Feature: Chumstick Snag (Base Elev. 2200 feet)
Route 1: Southwest Face (one pitch of sport & trad climbing)
Route 2: South Face—East Edge aka Standard Route (one pitch of sport & trad climbing)
Trip Report
On a sunny Spring day in 1977, Craig and I set out to climb Chumstick Snag, a striking fin of sandstone located in the Chumstick–Swakane Mountains near Leavenworth. We drove up Chumstick Highway, turned off on Spromberg Canyon Road for about ½ mile, and parked near the Spromberg Creek Bridge. From there, we set off on foot, heading up Spromberg Canyon and working onto the ridge west of the creek. We didn’t know exactly where Chumstick Snag would be, but once we gained the ridge crest, it came into view quite dramatically. Wow!
We roped up and climbed the Southwest Face route, a low Class 5 pitch (5.4 or so) with a few easy aid moves near the top. We then rappelled off and climbed the Class 5.7 Standard Route, which goes up the south face and east edge for one pitch. Both routes had several old bolts and a few cracks that allowed for some additional protection, as well as rappel bolts at the top. The rock quality was quite good, and the summit was spectacularly narrow. It was definitely worth the effort of finding the crag!
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