The Chelan Slam
⚲ Chelan Mountains, Glacier Peak Wilderness, Washington
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The “Chelan Slam” is a grouping of four Bulger List peaks in the Chelan Mountains near Lake Chelan in the Wenatchee National Forest. On this trip, we summited three of the four; Pinnacle Mountain (8,400’), Saska Peak (8,404’), and Emerald Peak (8,422’). We did not summit Cardinal Mountain (8,589’) on this trip.
Cardinal Mountain (8,589’) in the early morning light with an unexpected dusting of snow - it is the highest of the Bulger List peaks in this area of the Chelan Mountains.
Ryan Rodman hikes towards Saska Pass, the pinnacles of Emerald Peak (8,422’) tower in the background.
Emerald Peak (8,422’) as seen from camp at the head of the North Fork Entiat River.
View of the jagged ridge line of Emerald Peak (8,422’) from higher ground - en route to Saska Pass. Eventually, we inadvertently climbed the snow gully to the right of the summit - after making this mistake, we backtracked all the way down to the correct snow gully on the left side.
Ryan stops to look back at the impressive towers along Borealis Ridge from Borealis Pass on the ascent of Pinnacle Mountain (8,400’), the first Bulger List peak on our agenda for the weekend. Glacier Peak Wilderness, Washington.
Ryan hikes along the main summit ridge of Pinnacle Mountain (8,400’) in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, Washington.
We encounter a good dusting of snow along the summit ridge of Pinnacle Mountain, but nothing necessitating traction.
The summit of Pinnacle Mountain (8,400’) stands behind Ryan, having summited, we now retrace our steps back the way we came. Pinnacle Mountain-North Peak is the mountain in the background with no snow cover.
Emerald Peak (8,422’) from a different vantage, looking at the mountain’s western flanks from the valley of Snow Brushy Creek.
Cardinal Peak (8,589’) as seen from Saska Pass. The ascent route follows the main snow-filled gully center left.
Ryan on the scramble of Saska Peak (8,404’). This mountain is climbed via a fairly direct line up from Saska Pass, class III.
View of Pinnacle Mountain (8,400’) from the top of Saska Peak (8,404’) in the Chelan Mountains of Washington.
Back at camp after a successful day climbing both Pinnacle Mountain and Saska Peak. We light a small campfire to warm up in the surprisingly cold conditions during this final day in September.
Enjoying a hot beverage while tucked in amongst the larches.
Enjoying the final light on Cardinal Mountain while hanging out at camp - at the head of the North Fork Entiat River, Wenatchee National Forest, Washington.
The view of Saska Peak (8,404’) from camp, the first morning light hits the highest reaches while the moon still hangs above.
A look at the very snowy final push up Emerald Peak (8,422’) from the saddle just west of the main summit.
The summit of Emerald Peak (8,422’), the south summit of Emerald stand just behind in the distance.
A look at my tracks heading up Emerald Peak, photo taken on the descent.
Ryan Rodman cautiously makes his way down from the top of Emerald Peak (8,422’).
Looking back at Emerald Peak from camp, the south side showing little signs of the snowscape present on the mountains northern flanks.
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