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The Tatoosh Range, located in the southern end of Mt. Rain-Here Nat. Park, is made up of 11 named peaks. This 3 peak link-up is one of the most popular, if only because of the easy access from the trailhead. A popular Mazamas climb, this classic alpine scramble has a round trip hike of just 4 miles and 1,700 vertical feet, and thus can be done by most climbers of moderate fitness in a reasonable day. Along with a park entrance fee, all of the Tatoosh peaks offer spectacular views of Mt. Rainier - given clear weather, naturally. This is good beginner trip and fairly close to home. Be prepared for a short rappel on Castle and possible a handline on Pinnacle, depending on your comfort level on exposed 3rd or easy 4th class rock. In early season, an ice axe can be useful. "Tatoosh" means 'nourishing breast " in the local native American language.
The Castle is a box shaped peak on the immediate E of Pinnacle Peak, often climbed in conjunction with Pinnacle and Plummer peaks. There is a short rock pitch to gain the summit. Incredible views of Mt. Rainier await on a clear day. A rope and basic rock pro can help with beginner climbers.
Activity Notes
We will depart the Reflection Lake trailhead at 7:30 AM on June 8th and ascend on snow using ice axes and crampons as the conditions dictate. Once we reach the saddle between The Castle and Pinnacle Peak we will traverse around south of The Castle and drop our packs just below the summit block. We will climb low 5th class on top rope and then protect the short traverse to the true summit with a fixed line. The summit is small so we will summit one at a time and then rappel back down to our packs. Once everyone has summited, we will traverse back behind Pinnacle Peak and scramble up Plummer Peak. From there, we will traverse back to the saddle between Pinnacle and The Castle and descend the way we came. Our approximate route can be found on this map . Elevation gain is roughly 2,400ft in total between the two peaks. Round trip distance is approximately 4 miles. Climb team members can either join us at a campsite at Cougar Rock campground the night before the climb or drive up early on the morning of the climb. If you wish to stay and camp Saturday night after the climb, please plan to make your own camping plans. Note that if you plan to arrive to the park gates between 7 AM and 3 PM you will need a timed entry permit for your vehicle. Additional Costs : depending on how many people and cars we have at the campsite, camping will cost an additional $TBD per person. Vehicle entry into Mount Rainier National Park is $30 per car. Please keep these additional costs in mind when deciding to apply. What to Expect After Applying : please apply by May 18th for initial consideration. After May 18th, I will select the climb team and alternates and notify everyone via email of their status by May 24th. My goal in selecting a climb team is to create a well balanced group with a diverse range of skills, backgrounds, and experiences. Pace : the pace for this climb with be ONE. If you are nervous about keeping up with the group or nervous about climbing on steep snow for the first time, this climb is for you! We will go slow enough for everyone. If we are significantly slower than expected, we will only climb The Castle.| Other Information | |
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| Driving Distance from Portland | 160 miles |
| Driving Time from Portland | 3 hours |
| General Route Info | Mt. Rainier NP, Park HQ: 360-569-2211 ext 2334 |
| Expected Duration | Car to car in one day |
| Interesting Features | Mountain Views |
| Relevant Books | Cascade Alpine Guide: Columbia River to Stevens Pass by Fred Beckey 75 Scrambles in Washington by Peggy Goldman |
| Relevant Maps | USGS 7 minute series, Tatoosh Lakes and Mt. Rainier East; Green Trails: Mt Rainier East / Packwood Google map https://goo.gl/maps/w1aJeyYaDFw |
| Useful Links | GPS Track GPS Coordinates Map |
