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Chumstick Mountain, WA

WW7D's picture
Summit: 
W7W/CH-196
Voice Cellular Coverage: 
Decent, workable
Data Cellular Coverage: 
Don't know
Cellular Provider: 
N/A
APRS Coverage: 
Don't know

Chumstick Mountain (W7W/CH-196) is a drive-up summit that can easily be reached out of the Leavenworth area. A high clearance vehicle should be used, particularly for the alternative route described below. 

The summit is on the Entiat Ridge that also includes Sugarloaf Peak (W7W/CH-195), 5221 Twin Lead Mtn (W7W/CH-206), and 5774 Entiat Ridge Peak (W7W/CH-197).  All four summits can be done in one long day.  Two of the three summits (Sugarloaf and Chumstick) are drive-ups, Twin Lead is a drive-up or short hike, and Entiat Ridge Peak is a short hike.  

There are several ways to drive up to the Entiat Ridge to reach Chumstick.  I'll give two sets of directions.  If you do the Sugarloaf--Twin Lead--Chumstick--Entiat Ridge Peak route, you will want directions for Sugarloaf and Twin Lead.  But here are directions that take you right past Twin Lead and on to Chumstick. 

Start in Leavenworth.  Take Chumstick Highway north for 2 miles to Eagle Creek Road.  Turn right on Eagle Creek Road and drive 5.5 miles to where the paved road ends, and turn left onto Van Creek (FS 7520).  Continue for 5.75 miles, staying on the main road, up to a four-way intersection with a pit toilet. This intersection is called French Corral.  Take a right at French Corral onto Power Line House road (FS-5200-289).  Keep to the right as you follow this road for about 9.5 miles.  As you approach Chumstick, you will see motorcycle single track heading straight up to the summit. Just past that, there will be a short spur road up to the summit.  

An alternative route starts SE of Leavenworth in Peshastin, WA.  Turn onto Main Street and follow it to Derby Canyon Rd. Derby Canyon Rd turns north and into a gravel road also known as FS-7400.  Follow FS-7400 for 14 miles until you intersect Entiate Ridge Road (FS-5200).  There will be a sign or two along the way.  Take a sharp left onto FS-5200 and follow it for 1.4 miles, where you will find a short spur road to up to Chumstick Mountain.

There is room for numerous vehicles to park at the top.  At the northwest corner, there is space to set up HF antennas.  But don't put wires across the single track, or a motorcycle blasting up the hill may remove it.  This summit is quite popular.  Chumstick is one of the highlights of the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route, so there are many visits via adventure motorcycles and 4x4s.