Central Cowlitz Chimney and Banshee Peak - 8.21.2013

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Directions from the fee station at the White River entrance of Mt. Rainier National Park to the trailhead at Fryingpan Creek.
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Our approximate route to Banshee Peak and Central Cowlitz Chimney... 15 miles roundtrip, gaining ~5000 feet of elevation.
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A google earth look at the terrain around Panhandle Gap and the Cowlitz Chimneys.
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The trailhead for Summerland is directly across the road from the Fryingpan Creek parking area (3800').
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The first 3 miles of hiking are in the trees... with occasional distant views.
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Fireweed.
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The footbridge crossing of Fryingpan Creek after hiking 3 miles.
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On the switchbacks leading up to Summerland... Little Tahoma and Mt. Rainier.
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After hiking 4.2 miles we have reached Summerland... Meany Crest on the left... with Little Tahoma on the right.
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An unexpected meeting with nwhiker Zachster and her husband Mark in Summerland... they were finishing up an 11 day hike of the Wonderland Trail.
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Beyond Summerland now and heading for Panhandle Gap.
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Above Summerland and looking back across the valley to the very broad Goat Island Mountain.
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Terrain below Meany Crest.
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A tarn above Summerland... and the first good view of Panhandle Gap on the far left.
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A closer look at Panhandle Gap above.
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Above the tarn... continuing toward Panhandle Gap and looking back at Meany Crest below Little Tahoma... Steamboat Prow and Mount Ruth on the right skyline.
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The Wonderland Trail leading over to Panhandle Gap on the right.
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Nearing Panhandle Gap.
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One last patch of snow (upper left corner of the photo) to cross before reaching Panhandle Gap.
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Arriving at Panhandle Gap (6800').
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Looking north from Panhandle Gap... across the green west end of Goat Island Mountain over to Burroughs Mountain.
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The south side of Panhandle Gap... with Mt. Adams in the distance on the left.
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A pano shot from Panhandle Gap.
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On the south side of Panhandle Gap... looks like an easy hike up to Banshee Peak (the little nipple on the ridge at the top of the photo).
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Looking back at robman on the broad open slope that will take us to Banshee Peak.
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Snowdog got this shot of me pointing to Central Cowlitz Chimney on the left... with Main Cowlitz Chimney on the right... Point 7240+ is between the two chimneys in the photo.
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BarbE, Snowdog and robman on the ridge leading to Banshee Peak... with a large snow cone in the background.
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Banshee Peak is in the foreground on the right.
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Looking back at Mount Rainier.
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Heading for Banshee Peak on the right.
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robman and Snowdog... with Central Cowlitz Chimney (distant) and Banshee Peak on the right.
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Group shot from the Banshee Peak summit (7400+).
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From the Banshee Peak summit... Point 7240+ is in front of Central Cowlitz Chimney... with Main Cowlitz Chimney on the right.
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robman is heading over to find us a route over to Central Cowlitz Chimney.
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Our approximate route to the summit of Central Cowlitz Chimney.
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Snowdog and robman descending from Banshee Peak... we will have to give back 400 feet of elevation.
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BarbE on the SE side of Banshee Peak... still descending.
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Looking down on the Sarvant Glaciers... we still need to descend.
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Still descending... ugh... Main Cowlitz Chimney in the distance.
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After descending 400 feet from the Banshee summit we can see the route that will get us past Point 7240+ (treed bump in the foreground) and over to Central Cowlitz Chimney.
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BarbE checks out the east and north sides of Banshee Peak.
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Working around the south side of Point 7240+... with Main Cowlitz Chimney in the distance.
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The gang on the south side of Point 7240+.
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On the south side of Point 7240+... just a little bit of up will get us over to the saddle below Central Cowlitz Chimney.
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Snowdog on the saddle between Point 7240+ and Central Cowlitz Chimney... and the route that will get us most of the way to the top.
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BarbE checks out the east side of Point 7240+.
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I'm ascending Central Cowlitz Chimney now... looking at Point 7240+ in front of Banshee Peak.
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Above the light gray cliff band and looking over at Main Cowlitz Chimney.
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Looking down at BarbE, Snowdog and robman as they approach the light gray cliff band.
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Some Class 2 work will be needed above the ramp.
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On the bench now... it will lead us around to our right.
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Looking down at BarbE from the bench... she is waiting for Snowdog.
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The bench led me over to a huge cairn in the center of the photo... this marks the spot to head up again.
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On the final Class 2 section that will lead up to the summit... BarbE is still waiting for Snowdog at the very bottom of the photo.
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Very near the summit of Central Cowlitz Chimney.
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Main Cowlitz Chimney from near the Central Cowlitz Chimney summit... Mt. Adams in the distance on the right.
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On the Central Cowlitz Chimney summit (7421') now... with the Sarvant Glaciers below Banshee Peak.
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BarbE and Snowdog arrive at the summit.
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Snowdog got this shot of me on a little false summit near the true summit.
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Group shot from the Central Cowlitz Chimney summit.
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Heading down.
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More down.
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Descending the light gray cliff band.
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BarbE is working her way over to the saddle between Central Cowlitz Chimney and Point 7240+.
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Almost back to the saddle... Main Cowlitz Chimney on the right.
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Working our way around the south side of Point 7240+.
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Heading for Panhandle Gap now... we have decided to try and stay a few hundred feet below Banshee Peak on our return.
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Looking back at Main Cowlitz Chimney as we head for home.
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The last set of cliffs that we will have to deal with.
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Snowdog, BarbE and robman heading for home.
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No more cliffs... smooth sailing back to Panhandle Gap now.
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Getting closer to Panhandle Gap... we can see the path below that will get us there.
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Goats.
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On our way down from Panhandle Gap... the weather is changing.
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Refilling our water supply below Panhandle Gap... about 5 miles of trail hiking will get us back to our car.