Pinnacle Peak, East Ridge

Activity Notes

We will depart the Reflection Lake trailhead at 7 AM on June 9th 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 leave our packs and set up a belay and fixed line to ascend the East Ridge of Pinnacle in two pitches.  Expect 4th class up to 5.6 climbing which can be done in boots.  Once the entire team has climbed the East Ridge we will walk/scramble together to the summit and enjoy the views before descending via rappel on the southwest side.  We will then traverse back to our packs and descend back down the snow slopes the way we came.  Our approximate route is shown on this map.

Elevation gain is roughly 1,650ft.  Round trip distance approximately 3 miles.  Despite its "C" rating, this climb is suitable for recent BCEP graduates and is a great introduction to multipitch alpine climbing.

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.  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.