Pinnacle Peak, East Ridge

Activity Notes

This is a wonderful post BCEP climb where you will get to apply most of the skills you learned in BCEP and be a valuable member of a Mazama climb team.  The climb will include steep snow travel, 5th class climbing on rock, fixed line travel, as well as a rappel. Before the climb, participants should practice: putting on crampons, tying a figure 8 knot, tying an alpine butterfly, tying a prussik hitch, and setting up for rappel.

We will meet at the Reflection Lakes Trailhead Saturday morning and begin the assent up to the East Ridge of Pinnacle Peak.  Here we will set up a Recycle Belay system up to the Catwalk, and then set a fixed line up to the plateau before the summit.  From here we will ascend to the summit all together. We will then rappel down to our packs and back to the cars.

Camping will be available the night before and the night after  at Alder Lake Camp ground in Eatonville, WA for a minimal fee (fee will be determined based on how many are camping) made payable to Ann Marie.  Entry into Mt Rainier National park requires an America the Beautiful pass or a standard entry pass.  (info about passes can be found here).  Mt Rainier is a timed entry part, but as long as we enter before 7am we do not need a reservation.  For this reason, it is essential that we leave the campground early enough to get through the gate before 7am.