Chinook Pass / Naches Peak, June 2023

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Katt, Riley, and I did a “birthday tour” by climbing and skiing Naches Peak (~6360′) at Chinook Pass, WA on June 4th. Although the snow looked more like early July with all the suncups, there was plenty to go around and it was absolutely GORGEOUS up there! Best, Chinook Pass is the NE border to Mount Rainier National Park, and the approach route hides Tahoma (Rainier) until you literally set foot on the summit, a great surprise every time! All in all it was a perfect birthday; Katt even made me my favorite carrot cake with cream cheese icing!! YUM!!

Riley always runs ahead and gets on top of stuff like a mountain goat!
Skiing uphill, happy faces!
Tons of snow, lots of suncups! SE bowl of Naches Peak, 4 June 2023
Looking good for the last few steps to the summit!
Success!
The birthday boy!! Not bad for 51!
Jennie sent us some deeeeeee-licious beers from Missouri! My first drink in over a month and well-earned!
This “soup can” beer was awesome! (and hilarious!)
Tahoma - Mount Rainier from the summit of Naches Peak, 4 June 2023 by Daryl Greaser
Tahoma looks BONKERS from the summit of Naches. Hard to believe I climbed it *22 years* ago!!
Riley looking like “what the hell, dad?”
Katt thinking, “what the hell, dude?” as I put the camera right up in her mug
Seymour Peak (6337') from Naches Peak, Goat Rocks on the left skyline, 4 June 2023 by Daryl Greaser
Seymour Peak (6337′) from Naches Peak, Goat Rocks on the left skyline
Dewey Peak (6710') from Naches Peak., 4 June 2023 by Daryl Greaser
Dewey Peak (6710′) from Naches Peak. Looks like great skiing!
The Great PNW tee from Naches Peak, Tahoma (Mt. Rainier) in the background. 4 June 2023 by Daryl Greaser
Great, indeed! #pnwonderland
North to South panorama from Naches Peak. Mount Adams visible on right skyline.

Oh right, SKIING!! It was so beautiful and warm at the top we could’ve stayed for hours longer. But, daylight was burning, so it was time to get to the turns!

Top of my line; 1200 feet of vert awaits!!
A large wet slab avalanche snapped these trees like twigs and was documented back in April. There were dozens of trees down. BONKERS! Shows how much power a large slide can pack!
This photo by an NWAC forecaster shows the wet slide activity back in April (before the pass was open). The top red circle shows a MASSIVE crown where the slide started. The bottom red circle shows where we found the dozens of trees snapped off, which are buried in this photo. The green line shows Katt and I’s lines, and this photo illustrates why we love *spring* skiing, long after the avalanche danger has abated.
LOOK!! It’s a SUN CUP PUP!!
Our ski tracks in red
Good night, Tahoma!

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