
Pick handle Point Skin Uptrack
Crystal Mountain
Mount Rainier National Park
A short skin up from the top of Quicksilver Chair to the summit of Pickhandle Point
Ski Touring Difficult
- Distance
- 1.9 km
- Ascent
- 383 m
- Descent
- 49 m
- Duration
- 1-2 hrs
- Low Point
- 1.6 km
- High Point
- 1.9 km
- Gradient
- 37˚

Description
This is a relatively short skin up if you start from the top of Quicksilver Chair. Head up towards the runout of Silver Basin. Alternately you can start from Silver Basin by contouring around the east end of the drainage below Gunbarrel and Dogleg. As the cat track heads into the trees above Quicksilver Chair, stay to the climbers left. You will dip down and cross a creek bed. Stay left again past this dip. You will still be on an old logging road. At the top of the next rise, stay right through a well-spaced glade. Head NE towards the lowest point on the east ridge, known as Bear Gap. Watch for steep slopes above you that could slide. Work the lower angle slopes through the trees to this gap. Once at the pass, either skin or boot up the ridge to the summit of Pickhandle Point.
Difficulty
Difficult
Serious gradient of 30-38 degrees where a real risk of slipping exists.
Best time to visit
Features
- Trees
- Walk Required
Equipment required
- Skins