From Packwood, drive 4 miles on the paved Skate Creek Road and turn right onto FS 5270... continue 5.5 miles to a junction with 5270-990... stay to the right at the junction and drive another 1.5 miles to the trailhead on the right.
Denali Girl signs us in at the trailhead (2900') on this very chilly morning.
We are in the Tatoosh Wilderness... part of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Vine Maple on fire.
At 2 miles (5500') we will bypass the trail leading to Tatoosh Lakes.
Denali Girl continues on the trail in snow flurries.
Snowing harder now as we get our first look at the summit... the small bump to the right of the big bump in the center of the photo.
Looking back on our path as we traverse towards the south ridge of Tatoosh Peak.
At 4 miles we have reached the spur that leads to Tatoosh Peak.
Denali Girl on the south ridge of Tatoosh Peak... we will follow the ridge to the summit in the distance.
Three other hikers are close to the summit.
Looking south from the Tatoosh Peak summit (6310')... Oregon is in the sunshine.
Looking NW from the Tatoosh Peak summit... seriously, the Tatoosh Range and Mt. Rainier are really there.
The tarn just north of the Tatoosh Peak summit.
Fall colors near Tatoosh Peak.
As we head back down it is still cold enough to keep the snow on the trees.
I don't expect you to believe it... but the black dot in the blueberry (red) patch below is a black bear.
Blueberry slushy.
Every see a blueberry frowning?
Not sure what it is... but it is pretty.
The saddle in the center of the photo is only 100 feet above the trail and should look down on Tatoosh Lakes.
Almost to the saddle that should look down on Tatoosh Lakes.
Tatoosh Lakes from the saddle... Tatoosh peaks left to right... Foss, Unicorn, Boundary and Stevens.
Looking back on Tatoosh Peak... the trail traverses from where we are standing to the ridge low point on the far right... then follows the ridge to the summit.
Tatoosh Peaks left to right... Wahpenayo, Lane, Plummer, Pinnacle, Foss, Unicorn and Boundary... 2 miles left to reach the car... 9.5 miles roundtrip, gaining ~3600 feet of elevation.