Unicorn Peak - 8.28.2014
Directions from the fee station at the Nisqually entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park to the Snow Lake Trailhead.
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Our approximate route to the summit of Unicorn Peak... ~6 miles roundtrip, gaining ~2700 feet of elevation.
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The Snow Lake Trailhead (4520') is a short drive east of Reflection Lakes on the Stevens Canyon Road.
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Room for 25 cars at the Snow Lake Trailhead... with the parking area on the side of Stevens Canyon Road.
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We will be hiking past Bench Lake and Snow Lake to the end of the maintained trail.
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After a half-mile or so, we will stay on the trail leading to Snow Lake.
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We have hiked 1.2 miles to the end of the maintained trail... looking up to Unicorn Peak in the center of the photo.
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We will cross the boulder field and head for the chute in the right-center of the photo.
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Entering the chute above Snow Lake.
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In the chute and looking back down on Snow Lake.
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BarbE continuing up the chute.
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tomman and rocman ascending the chute.
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We are above the chute now and can see the Unicorn summit above.
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Still ascending on a reasonable boot path... now we can see the Unicorn Glacier above... between Unicorn Peak (left) and West Unicorn Peak.
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Looking back at the best view of Mt. Rainier that we had all day... Manatee Peak in the left foreground.
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Continuing on a reasonable boot-path toward the Unicorn Glacier... West Unicorn Peak in the center of the photo.
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Plummer Peak (left)... Pinnacle Peak and Castle Peak in the center... with Manatee Peak on the right.
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rocman and BarbE have reached the Unicorn Glacier... tomman and I will be there very soon... West Unicorn Peak on the right.
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We started up this gully when we reached the Unicorn Glacier.
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BarbE and rocman on a small ramp... heading toward the Unicorn/West Unicorn saddle.
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Before reaching the Unicorn/West Unicorn saddle we opted to take a direct route up toward the summit ridge.
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We are on steep terrain.
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Pinnacle Peak and Castle Peak in the foreground... with Iron Mtn and Copper Mtn in the distance on the left... and Pyramid Peak in the distance on the right.
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Off of the steep terrain and on a good path now.
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BarbE on a good path that will lead us to the south ridge of Unicorn Peak... the summit block is on the left.
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First look at Stevens Peak from the south ridge of Unicorn.
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tomman and rocman nearing the south ridge of Unicorn Peak... West Unicorn Peak is behind them.
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We are working our way over to the Unicorn summit block.
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rocman and tomman are getting the rope ready to go.
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rocman leads the first pitch... while tomman belays him.
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BarbE coming up the first pitch... rocman is belaying her from above.
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tomman on the first pitch.
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rocman starts off on the second pitch while tomman belays him.
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rocman at the top of the second pitch... time to belay the rest of us up to him.
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ragman on the second pitch.
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ragman near the top of the second pitch... the gear dangling at my right foot is a rookie mistake.
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BarbE on the Unicorn Peak summit (6971')... no big deal, eh... we can barely see the top of Mt. Rainier in the center of the photo.
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A selfie (plus 3) on the summit of Unicorn Peak... ragman, BarbE, tomman and rocman... Mt. Rainier is barely visible between BarbE and tomman.
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Plummer Peak, Pinnacle Peak, Castle Peak and Manatee Peak from the summit of Unicorn.
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Stevens Peak from the summit of Unicorn.
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The false summit (left) of Unicorn... and West Unicorn Peak... taken from the summit of Unicorn.
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Bench Lake (top) and Snow Lake from the Unicorn summit.
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Time to head down as rocman checks out the rappel station set up at the gnarled tree on the summit area... Tatoosh Peak in the distance on the left... with Mt. Adams on the horizon in the center of the photo.
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Preparing for the rappel at the gnarled tree.
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rocman and BarbE watch as tomman starts to rappel down.
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tomman rappelling... West Unicorn Peak in the background.
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tomman still rappelling.
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tomman is down and reunited with our packs.
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rocman is lowering BarbE.
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rocman is rappelling off of the Unicorn Peak summit.
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Leaving the summit block and heading down.
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BarbE heading down on good path... the Unicorn summit block is on the left.
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rocman is checking out the rappel station... where he will prepare the rope so that we can get down to the saddle between Unicorn Peak and West Unicorn Peak.
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tomman rappelling down to the saddle at the top of the Unicorn Glacier.
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tomman is almost down to the Unicorn/West Unicorn saddle.
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rocman prepares to lower BarbE down to the Unicorn/West Unicorn saddle.
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BarbE is on belay... heading down.
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rocman is rappelling down to the Unicorn/West Unicorn saddle.
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On the Unicorn/West Unicorn saddle... putting on our spikes and crampons that will get us off of the Unicorn Glacier.
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BarbE sets the steps for us as we descend from the top of the Unicorn Glacier... Manatee Peak in the left foreground.
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tomman and rocman getting off of the Unicorn Glacier.
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Off of the Unicorn Glacier... time to take off the crampons, put away the ice axe and get the hiking poles back out.
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Heading down on reasonable talus path.
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Nearing the top of the chute... and looking back at Unicorn Peak.
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Nearing the bottom of the chute... leaving a couple more miles to get back to the car.
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