32. Dewey Peak, 6710' (S-C)

This is a climb and is serious in places. It can be dangerous without requisite skills and equipment.

Dewey Peak is located on the eastern park border, which is also the Pierce County–Yakima County border. This is a difficult scramble and a low-end climb. It is mostly a scramble except for a small portion of class 4 climbing. The origin of the peak’s name is uncertain.

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Driving

Dewey Peak can be reached via two approaches and at the summit block there are two scramble-climb routes to the summit. 

Chinook Pass approach: Drive SR 410 to Chinook Pass and park on the south side of the pass. Park entrance fee is not required. 

SR 123 approach: Drive SR 410 south to Cayuse Pass and continue south on SR 123. About 3.25 miles south of Cayuse Pass (or about 0.4 mile past the tunnel), find a convenient place to park (elevation 3750'). Park entrance fee is not required.

Route

Chinook Pass approach: The best approach is from the saddle between Seymour and Dewey Peak. This saddle can be reached from the Pacific Crest Trail heading south from Chinook Pass. Leave the PCT west of Dewey Lake and head south, eventually reaching the gully between Dewey and Seymour. Climb the gully (there is a footpath in portions) to the saddle. From the saddle, climb east to the northwest ridge of Dewey. When you come to the pinnacles, travel on the southwest side of them. From here there are two scramble-climb routes to the summit.

For the west ridge route find a gully just past the pinnacles leading to a notch below the main peak. There is about 80’ of class 4 rock to the top. Protecting this last segment (perhaps with placement of a hand line should be considered). We think this is the easier of the two routes.

For the southeast ridge route travel past the pinnacles and the west ridge gully. Continue on the south face working your way around to southeast ridge. Many climbers would rope up for a pitch across the south face and another pitch up the southeast ridge to the summit. At the summit there are slings on a bolder to rappel the south face. We consider this detached bolder to be marginal and you may want to consider down climbing.

SR 123 approach: The Dewey-Seymour saddle can also be reached by first climbing Seymour. From where you parked on SR 123, head up the ridge at a bearing 50 degrees. Seymour is reached in 1.5 miles and the saddle between Seymour and Dewey at 2 miles. From the saddle, the approach (and the two routes) is the same as from Chinook Pass.

Comments

Dewey is ranked a scramble-climb because of a short exposed area near the summit. In addition, many rappel from the summit off a sketchy looking bolder.

Vital Statistics: Dewey Peak

• Skill: Rock climbing

• Beauty: 7

• Effort: 8

• Round-trip distance

  • via Chinook Pass: 8 miles

  • via SR 123: 5.3 miles

• Elevation gain

  • via Chinook Pass: 3100'

  • via SR 123: 3700'

• Total time 10 hours via Chinook Pass; 8 hours via SR 123)

• Best season: July until Chinook Pass closes

• Equipment: Scramble gear, helmet, rope, and protection

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