Where: Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
When: June 2009
Partners: DB
While a trivial endeavor in dry, summer conditions, we set out for Denman Peak in very snowy conditions after a ranger told us that "no one's going up there yet, 'cause it's too dangerous." Not so. With a little care, it was a fine half-day's outing.
Showing posts with label Mount Rainier National Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mount Rainier National Park. Show all posts
The Tatoosh's Denman Peak
A Loop of Fay Peak, Mount Pleasant & Mother Mountain
Where: Mount Rainier NP, Cascade Range, Washington
When: July 2008
Partners: DB
Route: 3-peak Loop (Class 3)
Mileage/Gain: 8/3,000
Heading in to Mowich Lake on the seldom-visited northwest side of Mount Rainier National Park, DB and I were appalled to see the lake completely frozen over. Geesh, we thought we'd left the heavy snows behind.
And so my big plan for a multi-peak loop the following day withered away. At bed time we settled upon the simple affair of a climb of Fay Peak the next morning instead.
Next morning, we crossed heavy snow to the ranger cabin at the lake, passed a mostly buried picnic table along the way. From the cabin, we started up steepish, snowy slopes and then traversed left until we got into the drainage that would lead us to Knapsack Pass.
Soon reaching the pass, we dropped down below cliffs and traversed right until we could gain a steep, loose slope that led to steep, slippery heather that lead to steep blocks that ultimately led to the crest of the ridge below Fay Peak. Alright! Mount Rainier blossomed into view!
Crossing over a false summit of Fay Peak, we continued along the ridge and soon found ourselves on the small highpoint. Woohoo! What a day! The sky was blue, the sun was warm, and the lake below was starting to melt...kinda.
With conditions so stunning, I asked DB if she'd mind me going off to bag nearby Mount Pleasant. Of course not!
Returning to Fay's false summit, I dropped down steep rock and began the tedious up-and-down process of traversing over to the over peak. With several gendarms and other slow-down features between the two points, it took me about thirty minutes to reach Pleasant's top. From there, the views of Rainier and over to Mother Mountain, a striking summit to the north/northeast, were awesome.
Making my way back to DB, I gathered her up and we headed back down to Knapsack Pass. There, we bumped into a man with his nephew and two daughters. Talking for a few, we made vague plans to hike up Mother Mountain together. Setting out, DB and I soon passed them...and never saw them again. Hmmm.
Gaining Mother's very nice, hugely exposed (on its south side) summit, we again took in the expansive views of a solitary-rich environment. What we'd expected to be a short, single-peak day had become a multi-peak classic affair!
TOPO
Pinnacle Peak & Plummer Peak
In May 2005, Rick Kent and I headed to the Tatoosh Range to take another stab at Pinnacle Peak, a peak I'd failed on during a recent winter attempt. With typical stormy Cascades weather moving in, our hopes weren't high.
Starting out from the paved road, we followed snow up easy slopes through thick forest to the Pinnacle-Plummer saddle. Angling left beyond the saddle, we looked for the weakness that would allow us up the peak's south face. With thick clouds moving in and snow threatening to fall, visibility was obscured and we soon found ourselves at what I recognized to be the Pinnacle-Castle saddle. Of course, this saddle had been the turn-around point for Eiji Sugi and I in our March attempt of Pinnacle.
After trying to find a reasonable way up the face above the saddle, we downclimbed the wet, slick rock and angled back toward the Pinnacle-Plummer, looking for the way up. Soon enough, we found a reasonable line that took us right up to the summit via class 4 terrain. Of course, the summit was shrouded in clouds and we had no views.
Dropping back to the Pinnacle-Plummer saddle, we made a quick run to Plummer Peak. Again, no views to speak of, except for a 10-second parting of the clouds that gave us a glimpse of Mount Rainier.
Soon returning to the saddle, we followed our tracks back toward the car. Along the way, snow began to fall and we enjoyed a nice glissade below Pinnacle's west face.
*Photos courtesy of Rick Kent
Pinnacle Peak, Winter Attempt
On the last day of winter 2005, Eiji and I headed to Mount Rainier National Park in a blizzard to climb one of the Tatoosh peaks. Pinnacle was our objective.
Leaving the road and starting up in deep snow, we encounterd awful conditions leading up to our camp. Worse yet, heavy rains down low managed to soak our gear, jackets and sleeping bags.
After a poor night of sleep, we woke early and started up the mountain. With more deep snow, poor visibility and worries of avalanche, we continued up to the Pinnacle-Castle saddle. There, we decided to head down. Conditions on the upper mountain looked poor, and the weather was worsening.
We descended back to the car without incident, a couple of soppy messes.
*Photos courtesy of Eiji Sugi
Mount Rainier, Washington's Lone 14er
After taking a few days in July 2004 to tour around Seattle and play tourist in Mount Rainier National Park, I met up with Eiji, Rod and Thomas at Paradise. Getting our permits, we got our gear in order and started up the trail toward Camp Muir.
Reaching Camp Muir after a couple hours, we took a short break, then crossed the glacier to gain our camp at Ingraham Flats. Setting up, we lounged around for the afternoon, enjoying the view of nearby Little Tahoma.
Rising early, Thomas wasn't feeling well, so he stayed behind while Rod, Eiji and I continued up. Taking a short break at the top of Disappointment Cleaver, we soon gained the upper Emmons Glacier, and then, the crater rim. 
Dropping down into the shallow crater, we left our packs, unroped, and then walked to the summit. The descent was uneventful.
Perfect weather, great conditions and fine partners.
TOPO
*Top photo courtesy of Eiji Sugi/Middle photo courtesy of Rod
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