Trip Date: June 13, 2010

Naches Peak Ski Circumnavigation & Seymour Peak Climb

Naches Flats
Dewey Lake Saddle
Dewey–Seymour Saddle
Seymour Peak (6337′)

Trip Report Summary

Region: Southern Washington Cascades

Sub-Region: Naches Mountains

Area: Mt. Rainier National Park

Starting & Ending Point: Chinook Pass pull-out near Tipsoo Lakes on Highway 410 (Elev. 5350 feet)

Way Points: Tipsoo Lakes Basin & Naches Flats & East Naches Basin (ski tour)

Sidetrip: Dewey Lake Saddle & Dewey Couloir & Dewey–Seymour Saddle & Dewey Creek Basin (ski tour)

Summit: Seymour Peak (ski ascent & snow hike & rock scramble via East Ridge)

Ski Run: Dewey Couloir (600-foot ski descent from Dewey–Seymour Saddle)

Approximate Stats: 7 miles traveled; 3000 feet gained & lost; 4.0 hours up; 3.2 hours down.

Related Posts

Dewey Peak via Dewey-Seymour Saddle–Northwest Ridge – August 13, 2011

Dewey Peak Attempt + Dewey Couloir Ski Descent – June 28, 2008

Full Trip Report

I did a nice ski tour in the Naches Mountains with Chris VB on Sunday.  We started at Tipsoo Lakes and skinned around the southwest side of Naches Peak, and then eastward across the hillside above Dewey Lakes.  Our goal was Seymour Peak, on the opposite side of the valley.

While traversing through Naches Flats, we encountered a solo skier coming over a small ridge. It turned out to be Eva Meassick, whom I had encountered several years ago in pretty much the same location.  If you don’t know Eva, you really should.  She is 75 years young and serves as a volunteer backcountry ski ranger for Mt Rainier National Park.  Her current schedule involves ski-patrolling the backcountry 2 to 3 days per week throughout the entire winter and spring—always alone.

She admitted that this “relaxed” schedule reflected her growing dislike for the 4-hour round-trip drive from home;  until recently, she’d routinely patrolled 5 days per week!  I took her photograph, and she regaled us with stories of her past backcountry adventures, which included the second completion of the rugged Cariboo Traverse in Canada.

Once back on route, Chris and I descended to the Dewey Lake Saddle, then worked our way up to the Dewey-Seymour Saddle.  I skied, booted, and scrambled up the corniced ridge crest to Seymour’s summit for better views.

Later, we enjoyed a fast ski run down through Dewey Basin on good corn snow.

After climbing back up toward Naches Basin, we continued our counter-clockwise loop around Naches Peak.  This made for a more interesting return to Chinook Pass, and it afforded us a look at an impressive slab avalanche that had released closely below the summit.  We estimated the fracture crown to be 3 to 5 feet high—and not more than a week old.

Photo Gallery

Click to enlarge…