Fay Peak and First Mother Mountain - 8.6.2014
Directions from the Wilkeson Fire Department to Mowich Lake... where we started this hike/scramble.
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Our approximate route... we did Fay Peak first... then over to Knapsack Pass... up to First Mother Mtn... back to Knapsack Pass and down to Mowich Lake... ~4.5 miles roundtrip, gaining ~2100 feet of elevation.
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Starting from the Mowich Lake Campground (4929')... we will go to the left and follow the lake over to the Ranger Station.
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At the Ranger Station you will see this sign... just continue on the unmaintained trail.
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There were a bizillion avalanche lillies on this hike.
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A sea of avalanche lillies on the west ridge of Fay Peak.
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Looking at Mowich Lake from the west ridge of Fay Peak... Tolmie Peak is beyond the lake.
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Continuing on the west ridge of Fay Peak.
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Still on the west ridge of Fay Peak.
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First view of Mt. Rainier from the west ridge of Fay Peak... and some nice beargrass.
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BarbE and flowers on the west ridge of Fay Peak.
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We can see the Fay Peak summit from the west ridge.
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Denali Girl and BarbE... with lupine, paintbrush and beargrass.
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Looking through the beargrass to Fay Peak.
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tomman and BarbE on steeper terrain now... Mowich Lake below.
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BarbE and tomman continuing for the Fay Peak summit.
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Almost on the Fay Peak summit.
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Looking over the saddle between Mt. Pleasant (left) and Hessong Rock to Mt. Rainier as we near the Fay Peak summit.
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First Mother Mountain from near the Fay Peak summit.
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BarbE is on the Fay Peak summit... the easiest route to the summit is around to the left and not in the photo.
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Denali Girl reaches the Fay Peak summit (6492')... looks very cloudy in the low lands.
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Mount Rainier from the Fay Peak summit.
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From the Fay Peak summit we are looking at the ridge leading over to Knapsack Pass (center) and First Mother Mountain (left).
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Group shot from the Fay Peak summit... ragman, Denali Girl, larman and tomman... with BarbE in the front.
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Leaving the Fay Peak summit and heading for Knapsack Pass... we will have to give back some elevation.
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After leaving Fay Peak we are working our way back up to the ridge that will get us over to Knapsack Pass.
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Back on the ridge between Fay Peak and Knapsack Pass.
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I am looking back at tomman and Denali Girl on the ridge connecting Fay Peak and Knapsack Pass... with Mowich Lake below.
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Still heading for Knapsack Pass... showing the approximate route we will take to First Mother Mountain.
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Looking down on the plateau on the east side of Knapsack Pass... and out to Crescent Mountain, the Sluiskins and Elysian Fields.
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Still heading for Knapsack Pass... with Fay Peak in the distance.
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Time to get off of the ridge and start dropping down to Knapsack Pass... First Mother Mountain on the left... with Second Mother and Third Mother to the right.
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tomman working his way down toward Knapsack Pass.
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Losing elevation on the way to Knapsack Pass... with First Mother above on the far right.
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Continuing down toward Knapsack Pass.
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Denali Girl... off the ridge and heading for Knapsack Pass.
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We have reached Knapsack Pass... where we could see most of Mt. Rainier.
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We have left Knapsack Pass and are heading for First Mother Mountain.
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BarbE checks out First Mother Mountain... there is a good path to the summit on the left.
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Mt. Rainier from the summit (6480+) of First Mother Mountain.
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On the way back to Knapsack Pass... and looking back at First Mother Mountain.
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A selfie taken just above Knapsack Pass... BarbE, larman and ragman.
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On the west side of Knapsack Pass and heading for Mowich Lake on an unmaintained trail.
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Looking back at Knapsack Pass (left) as we continue toward Mowich Lake.
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Looking up at Fay Peak as we continue for Mowich Lake... we used the ridgeline on the right to access the summit earlier in the day... we are about a half-mile from the lake.
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