Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock is a mountain located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of the Central Cascade Range in western Washington, United States. The mountain has two main summits, a northeast spire ("north peak") (7,634 feet (2,327 m)) and a central spire (7,727 feet (2,355 m)), as well as a minor south peak (7,440 feet (2,270 m)). Situated 10 miles NNE of Snoqualmie Pass, with its craggy appearance Chimney Rock is the most distinctive peak on the crest dividing the Snoqualmie River and Yakima River drainage areas. Lemah Mountain (7,480 feet (2,280 m)) is to the south on the crest, and Summit Chief Mountain (7,464 feet (2,275 m)) to the northeast. Overcoat Peak (7,432 feet (2,265 m)) is off the main ridge just to the north of Chimney Rock. The mountain has three glaciers: the Overcoat Glacier on the north, the Chimney Glacier on the south and east, and an unnamed glacier on the east side of the North Peak.

The Main Peak was a prized climbing object in the first half of the 20th century. A report of a party reaching the summit in 1923 turned out to be false, as it had climbed Lemah instead. A group of climbers who made an attempt in 1925 declared the summit as probably impossible. However already on August 27, 1930, Forest Farr, Art Winder and Laurence Byington reached the summit via the south and east face, spending several days for exploration, in a feat quite remarkable for the time. It took 10 years before the summit was reached again, in 1940 by Jim Crooks and Fred Beckey.

Due to the climate and elevation, Chimney Rock is more easily attempted during the early to mid summer. Areas of the climb are rated as YDS Class 5 and require specialized equipment and technical rock climbing to complete.