Plummer Peak

We drove to Reflection Lakes at Mt Rainier National Park to hike up to Plummer Peak, a 4 mile round trip hike with 1,400 ft of gain. Before our hike we walked down to the lake shore for this amazing reflection of Mt Rainier in Reflection Lake.

We saw wildflowers in bloom near the lake and scattered along the trail.

We started by hiking up the Pinnacle Peak Trail, which leads to the saddle on the west side of Pinnacle Peak. We found ripe huckleberries along the lower section of the trail.

We had some views of Mt Rainier as the trail gained elevation. Rainier magenta paintbrush in bloom.

Some pasqueflower seed heads further up the trail.

Lenticular cloud near Mt Rainier

We saw some mounds of greenery in the large scree area below Pinnacle Peak.

The pica were busy gathering the greenery

in preparation for winter.

Near the saddle there is a niche in the rocks that look like a cave, with some boot tracks up to it.

View of Rainier from inside the niche.

Back on the trail, looking north to Mt Rainier.

Looking south to the saddle on the left and Plummer Peak on the right.

View to the south from the saddle at Pinnacle Peak.

zoom of the Goat Rocks

zoom of Mt Adams

zoom of Mt Hood far to the south

Looking up towards Plummer Peak

From the saddle we followed some boot tracks to Plummer Peak. Looking towards Mt Rainier, a small snowfield far below.

Looking back towards Pinnacle Peak to the east.

Lots of lovely views of Mt Rainier as we continue hiking up Plummer Peak.

Plummer Peak is getting closer

I stopped frequently to enjoy the views.

Mt Adams seen as we continue up Plummer Peak 

There is some scrambling and route finding as we neared the summit of Plummer Peak.

View of Mt Rainier and the steep bit right below the summit of Plummer Peak.

Pano to the south from the top of Plummer Peak: other Tatoosh Peaks, Goat Rocks, Mt Adams, Mt Hood and Mt St Helens

zoom of Mt St Helens

pano to the north from Plummer Peak:

view of Mt Rainier as we start to head back down

zoom of the top of Mt Rainier

Wide angle view of the Tatoosh Peaks to the east as we hike down towards the saddle.

Fall color and increasing clouds to the south as we continue back to the saddle.

We saw more pika on our hike down.

Fall is coming to the mountain.

Butterfly on pearly everlasting 

some of the wildflowers along the trail this morning: