Trip Report

Spray Park, Flett Glacier, Knapsack Pass & Observation Rock via Echo Rock — Friday, Sep. 20, 2024

Mount Rainier Area > NW - Carbon River/Mowich

Trip Report By

rbs13

WTA Member

100

Type of Hike

Day hike

Trail Conditions

Minor obstacles posing few problems

Road

Road rough but passable

Bugs

No bugs

Snow

Snowfields to cross - could be difficult

Fall foliage

Sunset view of Echo, Rainier and Observation

Decided to do Echo and Observation Rock today to complete my weird obsession with reddish looking mountain this year.

Started late at around 9:30 ish from Mowich CG via Knapsack Pass. Trail was a bit muddy in sections and some cairns marked the route near the boulders section.

Bold fall colors at the meadow area and there were many giant mushrooms along the trail.

There were few crevasses near the base of Flett Glacier. We went a bit SW to avoid the crevasses and some moats. The glacier was a mix of ice and suncupped snow. Brought ice axes, spikes, crampons and poles but we managed with just spikes and poles.

I'd say the scramble to echo was a mix of class 2 and 3. There was an exposure for the last 20 ft or so to the spire. The summit was also small, and may only fit 2 or 3 people at a time.

We summited pretty late at around 3 PM and we made our way back to the saddle and went up to Observation rock.

On few trip reports,the route to Observation was described as an easy walk-up with no exposure. Well, it wasn't like that for us 😀. There were lots of volcanic choss on the route and we also tagged the 'south peak' of Observation which also had some exposure.

Took the spray park trail back to the trailhead and had to don a headlamp for the last 2 hours of the hike.

Stats: 12.7 mi - a little over 12 hours with a slow pace.

Crevasses near the bottom of glacier