June 5, 2018, Chinook Pass-Lonely

With an upcoming trip, I wanted to do some last skiing and felt that I could ski Chinook Pass without the masses.  Having the approach from the White River entrance closed, it looked like a "no masses day". I took the camper and spent the night in Yakima.  The drive up to the Pass on Tuesday was great because I could see the surrounding area without some vehicle trying to pass me on the 90 minute drive. The only vehicles I saw were 2 CA and ID cars driving east.  Plus 4 motorcycles – I was hoping one was Robie – but nope.

I drove past the Mt. Rainier overlook and I was looking for access to the west-side of Naches Peak. There were no cuts off the road onto the snow. The way up the snow "cliff" was deeper than I wanted to climb up/down. I stopped at the restroom on the west side and saw a place to get off the road and climb onto the snow and skin a short way to the basin on the west side of Naches. The temperature was cool which made the skinning enjoyable. I started on the eastern side of Chinook Pass because the snow was 2 feet from the camper and flat and headed west. I am addicted to the early morning east side and headed west. It was a bit firmer and I could ski near the trees trail. Then I skied to the west part of Naches Peak. Yes, it was " lonely" and I only saw a couple of tracks from the weekend.  There is good coverage. No mush today but it was cooler. Yes, sun cups are forming in various areas, but it's not a problem, yet.  I did not have a pollen problem, but it could have been because of the wax applied – SWIX F4 Premium Liquid Fluor.

I have provided a few photos of the terrain from the eastern and western side. Most Chinook Pass followers can see the coverage.  My only photo comment is on Zap's Peak. Yes, it is really 6567' and is above Dewey Lake.  It has good coverage, and I named it years ago when someone asked 'where'd you ski?..