Plummer Peak

On a clear day you can see forever. Or if you're in a singing mood, you might break into "the hills are alive . . . " from the top of Pinnacle Saddle en route to an eventual scramble up Plummer Peak, one of the jewels in the Tatoosh Range. Or you might just sit for a moment and stare in awe at all the surrounding scenery.How do you get to the trailhead for this hike to the saddle between Pinnacle and Plummer Peaks in the Tatoosh Range? Once you've driven to the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National park on Highway 706, continue 15.6 miles on the Longmire-Paradise road to the Stevens Canyon turnoff. Turn right and proceed 1.7 miles east on the Stevens Canyon Road to the long parking area along Reflection Lakes. The elevation here is just over 4,865 ft. The trail begins across Stevens Canyon Road on the uphill (south) side.A word of caution before you start: Please have good hiking boots, as there are some snowfields to cross in July and rocks and paths up on the saddle and beyond can be hazardous. A walking stick also would be of value. Carry plenty of water, as there is none available along the route after mid-summer. Plummer Peak is a summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Lewis County, Washington. With an elevation of 6370 feet, it is the seventh highest peak in the Tatoosh Range. It was named for Fred G. Plummer, a Forest Service cartographer who taught geography in Tacoma Public Schools. Hiking to the summit requires a mix of hillwalking and scrambling. The area is also used for skiing, though avalanches present a danger; in 1988, skier Pamela Benton Lee died after being buried by an avalanche on Plummer Peak. From the peak, views of Mount Rainier, the town of Packwood, the Goat Rocks, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams are visible. A small tarn is located on the side of the summit. A col called "The Saddle" creates a walkable ridge connecting Plummer Peak to its neighbor, Pinnacle Peak.