Mountaineering · YDS Class 3-4

Fisher Chimneys

Distance RT
14.0 mi
Gain
6,900 ft
High Point
9,131 ft
Trailhead
Lake Ann Trailhead
4,701 ft elevation
Permit Required

An itinerary-based backcountry permit from the National Park Service is required for any overnight stay once the route enters North Cascades National Park above Lake Ann; this is a popular, high-demand cross-country zone and permits (available by phone or in person, and via recreation.gov reservation for some dates) can be limited in peak season. A Northwest Forest Pass or other valid recreation pass is required for trailhead parking.

Route Description

A three-glacier alpine classic and the most photographed line on Mount Shuksan, longer and more technical than the standard Sulphide Glacier route but joining it near the summit pyramid.

Approach

Drive the Mount Baker Highway (SR-542) to its end near Artist Point and start at the Lake Ann Trailhead (4,700 feet). The route begins, somewhat perversely, by losing nearly 1,000 feet down to Swift Creek before regaining it on the far side to reach Lake Ann. From Lake Ann, follow a climbers' trail toward the toe of the Lower Curtis Glacier; it switchbacks, crosses two gullies, and becomes faint just before the entrance of the Fisher Chimneys. Scramble roughly 1,000 feet of Class 3-4 rock through the chimneys, including a short ice step known as Winnie's Slide near the top, to a high camp near the toe of the White Salmon Glacier around 6,700 feet. From high camp, rope up and cross the White Salmon, Upper Curtis, and Sulphide Glaciers in turn, navigating around crevasses, to reach the base of the summit pyramid. Climb the pyramid via a 3rd-class scramble up the central gully, or, for a harder and more direct finish, 5th-class rock on the southeast ridge.

Descent

Descend the climbing route. Most parties downclimb the Fisher Chimneys rather than rappelling, though fixed rappel stations exist for the steeper sections (notably "the Wall") if conditions or fatigue call for it; rockfall in the chimneys is a real, ongoing hazard worth moving through efficiently.

Weather Forecast
⚠️
Air Quality: Moderate · AQI 69
PM2.5: 1.7 μg/m³ · Check conditions before travel
5-Day Air Quality Forecast
Today
103
Unhealthy
Tomorrow
57
Moderate
Sun, Sep 27
53
Moderate
Mon, Sep 28
60
Moderate
Tue, Sep 29
58
Moderate
PM2.5 wildfire smoke threshold: 35 μg/m³ · Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo
7-Day Forecast
Today
❄️
Snow
29° / 20°
100%
❄ 6.9"
💨21
Tomorrow
❄️
Snow
22° / 12°
63%
❄ 1.9"
💨18
Sun, Sep 27
☁️
Overcast
36° / 14°
💨9
Mon, Sep 28
☁️
Overcast
35° / 16°
35%
💨6
Tue, Sep 29
🌨️
Rain
26° / 17°
66%
💧0.74"
💨6
Wed, Sep 30
❄️
Snow Showers
25° / 15°
45%
❄ 0.1"
💨5
Thu, Oct 1
❄️
Snow Showers
24° / 14°
49%
❄ 0.2"
💨4
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