Mt Rainier and other mountains are seen from Sourdough Point
Chinook Peak and Mt Rainier viewed from Sourdough Point during Threeway Peak Ski Loop

Threeway Peak Ski Circumnavigation via Crystal Bowl + Sourdough Point (Chinook Mountains, WA)

Jim Brisbine·
Chinook MountainsSnow Tours in Southern WA CascadesTraverses & Loops (Ski)Winter Summits
·80 views

Trip Date: April 30, 2006

Threeway Peak Ski Circumnavigation & Sourdough Point Day Climb

Silver Basin
Silver Saddle
Crystal Bowl
Crystal Gap
Sourdough Gap
Sourdough Point (6708 ft)
Sourdough Basin
Placer Notch

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Trip Report Summary

Region: Southern Washington Cascades

Sub-Region: Chinook Mountains

Areas: Mt. Baker – Snoqualmie National Forest & Mt. Rainier National Park

Starting & Ending Point: Crystal Mountain Ski Area base lodge (Elev. 4400 feet)

Way Points: Miners Lakes & Silver Basin & Silver Saddle & Crystal Bowl & Crystal Gap  & Sourdough Gap & Sourdough Basin & Placer Notch & Silver Basin (ski tour & snow climb)

Summit: Sourdough Point (snow climb via Southeast Ridge)

Approximate Stats: 6 miles traveled; 3500 feet gained & lost; 7.0 hours elapsed.

Southern Cascades Region Map
Chinook Mountains Location Map

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Full Trip Report

I did a ski tour in the Crystal Mountain area with George. The weather was great all day, but yesterday’s freaky cold-snap put an icy crust over the entire snowpack, along with drifted powder in every depression. As a result, we did almost as much step-kicking in boots as we did skinning with skis on. Fortunately, there were enough sun-kissed slopes to give us some good turns.

We started at the ski area parking lot and skinned into upper Silver Basin, then booted up to Silver Saddle on the ridge crest west of Threeway Peak.

George skiing into Silver Basin
Booting Along Ridge Crest

Our best turns of the day came during a descent into the “Crystal Bowl” holding Upper Crystal Lake.

George skiing to Crystal Lake

A boot ascent got us to Crystal Gap east of the lake, and then we booted over to Sourdough Gap.

Traversing To Sourdough Gap

From there, we made a quick boot romp up 6708-foot Sourdough Point and were treated to some wonderful views of the southern Chinook Mountains.

Chinook Peak From Sourdough Point
Threeway Peak From Sourdough Point

Once back at Sourdough Gap, we dropped into Sourdough Basin on NE-facing slopes that transitioned from death-crust to smile-corn. We traversed northeasterly past Threeway Peak, then booted straight up to a 6400-foot col closely east of the summit. A short boot descent down the other side of the col got us back to upper Silver Basin and some nice skiable slopes for a fast descent to the car.

George Skiing Down From Ridge

Route Map

Threeway Peak Ski Circumnavigation Route Map

Click to enlarge…

George Skiing Into Silver Basin
Booting Along Ridge Crest
George Skiing To Crystal Lake
Threeway Peak From Ridge
Chinook Peak and Upper Crystal Lake viewed from Silver Saddle during Chinook Peak Ski Circumnavigation
Traversing To Sourdough Gap
Chinook Peak From Sourdough Gap
Dewey Peak From Sourdough Gap
Threeway Peak From Sourdough Gap
Mt Adams and Naches Peak From Sourdough Gap
Sourdough Gap and Sourdough Point
Climbing Sourdough Point
Dewey Peak and Naches Peak
Chinook Peak and Mt Rainier viewed from Sourdough Point during Threeway Peak Ski Loop
Chinook Peak From Sourdough Point
Chinook Peak From Sourdough Point
Dewey Peak and Naches Peak From Sourdough Point
Fifes Peaks From Sourdough Point
Threeway Peak From Sourdough Point
George and Mt Rainier
George Glassing Sourdough Gap
George Skiing Down From Ridge