Chumstick Mountain is the site of a former fire lookout at
5810’ elevation. Here is an archived photo of the original
Lookout. This peak is one
of the principal summits on the SE end of Entiat Ridge, a large
geographic structure composed of a single continuous ridgeline
over 40 miles in length.
Chumstick Mountain is in an Alpine environment with an
incredible 360 degree view of the following: The Enchantments and
Mt Stuart, Icicle Range, Lake Wenatchee area, Glacier Peak, Entiat
Valley, Chelan Butte and portions of the Columbia Gorge, the
Columbia Plateau, Mission Ridge, and on a really clear day, Mt
Adams.
See the VIEW OF GLACIER
PEAK at top of Chumstick Mountain. This Benchmark is
located at the very top, where the lookout tower once stood.
Getting There:
Chumstick is in the midst of a major road network, there are at
least 5 ways to get to the top, all of which boil down to driving
the final summit ridge from either the N, or SE, on a road which
traverses Entiat ridge for miles. Any forest service map will show
the peak and road network and by choosing an approach and sticking
to obvious main roads it is not difficult, but there are numerous
junctions and being good with a map is definitely a plus the first
time. The following major approach directions should get you
there:
- From Leavenworth (17 miles to cache): Take Hwy 209 2
miles North (towards Plain). Turn right (east) onto Eagle Creek
Road. Drive to the end of pavement and follow roads to Entiat
Summit road then to the top. This is the route we took returning
from the summit. It wasn't too bad, but a little muddy.
- From Hwy 2 near Peshastin (14 miles to cache): Take
Derby Canyon Road heading NE to road FR-7400, then to Entiat Summit
Road to the top.
- From Hwy 2 by Cashmere (13.5 miles to cache): Take
Nahahum Canyon road N to dirt road, hard left at obvious multiple
junction at top of valley in wooded pass. Follow road several miles
to intersection with Derby Canyon road, turn right onto FR-7400,
then to Entiat Summit Road to the top. This is the route we took to
hide the cache (It was quite muddy)
- From Swakane Canyon Road off Hiway 97-A (16 miles to
cache): Follow Swakane Canyon road in NW direction to FR-7400, and
Entiat Summit Road to the top.
- From town of Entiat (19 miles to cache): Take Entiat
river road, left on Mills Canyon road to Entiat Summit Road and
proceed NW along ridge some miles to summit.
Here is a MAP showing two
possible routes.
The cache container is a large ammo box.