Mt Shuksan — Fisher Chimneys
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The most aesthetic moderate line on one of the Cascades' most photographed peaks — a tour through everything alpine: exposed chimneys, three glaciers, Hell's Highway snow ramp, and a 3rd/4th-class (with a short 5.0 step) summit pyramid topping out at 9,131 ft. Second-most-climbed route on Shuksan and a quintessential North Cascades rite of passage.
🥾 Approach · descent · season
Approach: From the Lake Ann trailhead off the Mt. Baker Hwy (past the ski area, ~4,700 ft), hike the Lake Ann Trail ~4 mi to Lake Ann basin, then scramble ~1,000 ft of 3rd/4th-class rock up the Fisher Chimneys to high camp near the toe of the White Salmon Glacier (~6,700 ft). 2-3 hr trailhead to camp.
⬇️ Descent: Reverse the route: downclimb/rappel the summit pyramid gully to regain the Sulphide Glacier, descend the Sulphide, cross back over Hell's Highway onto the Upper Curtis Glacier, then drop the steep step onto the White Salmon and descend Winnie's Slide; rappel stations through the Fisher Chimneys (plus much exposed downclimbing) back to camp. Expect ~5 hr — descent is the crux of the day.
🗓️ Season: Mid-July through September. Earlier = more snow cover (easier, fewer moats) but Winnie's Slide and glaciers firmer; late season exposes ice, opens crevasses/moats and adds rockfall in the chimneys.
🎒 Gear & food
Rack: Glacier kit: rope, harness, crevasse-rescue gear, crampons, ice axe. A few alpine draws/slings and a small selection of cams/nuts for the short 5.0 steps and rappel backups; ice screws + a second tool worth bringing if Winnie's Slide is icy in late season.
✅ Before you leave the trailhead
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⚠️ Hazards · fire · emergency
- Glacier/crevasse and complex route-finding — exposed 4th-class chimneys (rockfall), Winnie's Slide ice step, moats/crevasses on White Salmon, Upper Curtis & Sulphide glaciers, loose-rock summit pyramid gully, and a long exposed downclimb/rappel descent
🌤️ Live conditions
Auto-updated 20h ago · °F · tap a link for the mountain-specific picture ↓
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