Looking across a ravine at craggy Fifes Peaks
East and West Fifes Peaks viewed from Northeast Fifes Peak

Northwest Fifes Peak + Northeast Fifes Peak via Miner Creek Ridge (Chinook Mountains, WA)

Jim Brisbine·
Chinook MountainsSouthern WA CascadesFifes Peaks
·143 views

Trip Date: August 28-29, 2010

Fifes Peaks Climbing Trip

Survey Creek Basin
Grassy Saddle
Point 6685 aka Southwest Fifes Knoll
Northwest Fifes Peak (~6950′)
Northeast Fifes Peak (~6925′)

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Trip Report Summary

Region: Southern Washington Cascades

Sub-Region: Chinook Mountains

Area: Norse Peak Wilderness

Starting & Ending Point: Crow Lake Trailhead on Highway 410 (Elev. 3400 feet)

Way Points: Miner Creek Ridge Viewpoint & Survey Creek Basin & Grassy Saddle (trail hike)

Campsite: Survey Creek Basin (Elev. 5500 feet)

Sidetrip: Southwest Fifes Knoll & Fifes Ridge (off-trail hike)

Summit: Northwest Fifes Peak (off-trail hike & rock scramble via South Ridge)

Summit: Northeast Fifes Peak (rock scramble via West Ridge)

Approximate Stats: 11 miles traveled; 5100 feet gained & lost.

Southern Cascades Region Map
Chinook Mountains Location Map

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Full Trip Report

For several years, Eileen and I had been intrigued by the cluster of volcanic crags known as Fifes Peaks in the Chinook Mountains. We had a day-and-a-half available for a climbing trip, so we headed over Chinook Pass to check them out.

Day 1: Trailhead to Survey Creek Basin

Starting at the Crow Lake Trailhead on a cloudy Saturday evening, we hiked up Miner Creek Ridge and down to Survey Creek Basin and back up to Grassy Saddle. There was no water at the saddle, so we dropped back to the basin and, traveling by headlamp, located a roomy hunter’s camp (2.6 hours from TH).

Day 2: Fifes Peaks Climbs + Exit

From camp, we hiked northeasterly up to a 6685-foot knoll on Fifes Ridge, then headed northerly along the crest to gain the 6950-foot summit of Northwest Fifes Peak (2.5 hours from camp). The ridge offered easy but interesting Class 2-3 scrambling on the volcanic breccia, which forms some wild formations.

After a short break on the Northwest Peak, we continued scrambling easterly along the ridge leading to Northeast Fifes Peak. Although slightly lower than the Northwest Peak, this summit provides a better view of the precipitous East Peak and West Peak.

We retraced our up-route back to camp, packed up, and hiked out to the trailhead, arriving in mid-afternoon (2.0 hours from camp). Our first visit whetted our appetite for more scrambling in this rugged little pocket.

Route Map & Profile

Fifes Peaks 2010 Route Map (CalTopo)

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Fifes Peaks 2010 Route Profile

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Click to enlarge…

West and East Fifes Peaks
Hiking Towards Northwest Fifes Peak
Yellow Cliff On Northwest Fifes Peak
Lava Monster On Ridge
East and West Fifes Peaks viewed from Northeast Fifes Peak
Southwest Knoll From Northeast Peak
Eileen On Northeast Peak
Eileen On Northeast Fifes Peak
Scrambling Breccia On Northeast Fifes Peak