Trip Date: June 24, 2007
Skookum Point Day Climb
North Paris Creek Basin
Point 5800 aka Skookum Point
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Cle Elum Mountains
Area: Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest
Starting & Ending Point: Paris Creek Trailhead on Cle Elum River Road (Elev. 2800 feet)
Way Points: Paris Creek & North Fork Paris Creek & North Paris Creek Basin & Skookum Point (trail hike & off-trail hike & rock scramble)
Approximate Stats: 10 miles traveled; 3300 feet gained & lost; 2.9 hours up; 2.3 hours down.
Full Trip Report
Here are some photos from Sunday’s hike and scramble in the Cle Elum Mountains with Eileen, Jon, Eric, Ryan, and Adam. Given limited time and unsettled weather, we choose to do “Skookum Point,” which is a 5800-foot rocky knob west of Skookum Mountain. The fact that this little summit stands guard over the Paris Creek valley also allowed us to properly honor Paris Hilton’s impending release from jail………NOT!
- Skookum Point From Trail
Under gray skies, we hiked 4 miles up the Paris Creek Trail, then spiraled clockwise through scrub forest and steep scree to reach the ridge saddle. A short Class 2 scramble completed our ascent.
- Group On Skookum Point
This summit doesn’t have any significant prominence, but it does offer a nice view and an impressive 5-foot-high cairn (possibly a survey marker??) that can be seen from a mile away.
- Jim Inspecting Summit Cairn (photo By Jon)
A sudden, intense snow flurry added a little extra spice to our summit lunch and the start of our descent.
While hiking down through North Paris Creek Basin, we stumbled across a hunter’s camp that had a Blair-Witchian display of animal bones. Eeek!
- Bone Mask On Tree
Route Map
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge…
