Observation Rock and Echo Rock - 8.3.2008
rodman's 2006 GPS route... the same route we used today... starting from Mowich Lake, hike via Spray Park on the way in and return to Mowich Lake via Knapsack Pass... 13.5 miles roundtrip, gaining 4349 feet of elevation.
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After hiking for ~3 miles, enter Spray Park and get the first view of Mt. Rainier... Observation Rock is between the trees on the left.
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Hessong Rock from Spray Park.
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Mt. Pleasant from Spray Park.
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Knapsack Pass and Mother Mtn from upper Spray Park.
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Looking back on Hessong Rock, Mt. Pleasant, and Fay Peak as we continue on the Wonderland Trail.
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We've left the Wonderland Trail and are continuing on good path towards Echo Rock on the left and Observation Rock on the right.
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Kerry and larman are heading for the Flett glacier between Echo and Observation.
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We've reached the Flett Glacier.
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The Echo Rock tarn.
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larman on the Flett Glacier... someone has already made good steps for us.
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We've reached the south side of Echo Rock and it's time to do some scrambling.
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larman is working his way back toward the north just beneath the cliffs.
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Denali Girl beneath the Echo Rock cliffs with the Russell Glacier and Carbon Glacier behind.
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Denali Girl doing some Class 3 scrambling near the top of Echo Rock.
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larman was on the summit and got this shot of Denali Girl and ragman nearing the top.
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larman on the Echo Rock summit (7870').
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A closeup of the Echo Rock tarn from the Echo Rock summit.
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Mt. Rainier from the Echo Rock summit.
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Observation Rock from the Echo Rock summit.
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Denali Girl nears the Echo Rock summit as ragman records the event.
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Kerry, Denali Girl, and larman relax just below the Echo Rock summit.
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We've left Echo Rock and are heading over to Observation Rock.
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Kerry and larman lead the way over to Observation Rock.
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We've reached the south side of Observation Rock... there is an easy route to the top on the west side.
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Echo Rock and part of the Flett Glacier from the Observation Rock summit (8364')... Tyee, Crescent, the Sluskins, and Old Desolate in the distance.
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larman and Kerry from the Observation Rock summit.
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ragman on the Observation Rock summit... with Echo Rock to the right.
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larman just below the top of Observation Rock.
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A closeup of Mystic Lake from the top of Observation Rock.
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Looking back on Echo, Rainier, and Observation as we leave the Flett Glacier and head back towards Spray Park.
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Mt. Rainier and upper Spray Park from the east shoulder of Mt. Pleasant... needed to gain this elevation so that we could get over to Knapsack Pass.
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Knapsack Pass (center) from the east shoulder of Mt. Pleasant.
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Denali Girl and larman on the way to Knapsack Pass... still lots of snow on the east side of Knapsack Pass.
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Denali Girl, Kerry, and larman are getting closer to Knapsack Pass.
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Denali Girl is getting close to Knapsack Pass.
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Fay Peak from Knapsack Pass... named for Fay Fuller, the first woman to climb Mt. Rainier.
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Mowich Lake from Knapsack Pass.
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Looking back on Knapsack Pass as we head for Mowich Lake.
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Mowich Lake from near the Ranger's Cabin... very close to the car now... ugh, a very long day!
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