I'd climbed the North Gully to ~50 ft below the summit in January and then made another attempt via the summer route in March but turned back because of avalanche conditions, so the summit felt good even though the visibility was lousy. I enjoyed the trail and the summit scramble was fun.
dan-o - Aug 12, 2011 5:58 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2003
Trainer Plus
Fun conditioning hike with the bonus of a little scramble at the top. Always fun, though getting popular and crowded the last few times I've been up there.
Josh Lewis - Jan 14, 2011 6:48 pm Date Climbed: Jan 7, 2010
So close yet so far
Tried doing the North Face but my partners were sketched out on some icy rock and such, we got about 50-100 feet from the summit.
lcarreau - Dec 16, 2010 7:53 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 1987
Perfect conditions..
Sorry, but I can't see the reason for climbing it under icy conditions. I'll be honest.. it's scary enough under perfect
conditions, when the sun is shining & angels are singing.
Did it back in the 1980s with the Tacoma Mountaineers.
And, can't understand WHY they call it a "butte."
If you want to see a REAL butte, please come to Arizona!
breauxtrahn - Dec 8, 2010 9:32 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2004
shady snow
Up on the ridge some snow on steep areas was slushy and troublesome. The scramble is super easy but pretty exposed.
Bryan K - Aug 18, 2010 11:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2010
Don't goof
If you slip on the scramble part you'll end up like hamburger when they find your body down below!
Cascade Scrambler - Jul 28, 2010 12:35 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2010
Easy hike
This is an easy, laid back hike. The first time Rainier pops out, it feels as if you can almost reach out and touch it. My personal opinion is that the scramble up the summit block from the standard route is overhyped. Also, do yourself a favor and park on FS9020, unless you're using this for conditioning.
EastKing - Jul 14, 2010 1:54 am Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2010
Getting more comfortable scrambling
Happy to say that I actually summited this peak. I'm not the best scrambler in the world but I mastered this one. No lose rocks and the handholds and footholds are there. It is just that one short section that is the real challenge. Just don't make a mistake!!!!
Scrambling up is always funner than down.
Very few people on the trail for an I-90 corridor hike.
RokIzGud - Mar 22, 2010 12:28 pm Date Climbed: Jan 7, 2010
North Face Fail
We tried a winter asent of the North Face and failed 50 vertical feet from the summit. We brought a rack and screws but couldnt find placment at the top.
good hike, quite steep for a while, and a fun scramble to the summit. great views from the top.
skook - Aug 31, 2009 5:38 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2005
Great for training
Nice trail with a good scramble to keep it interesting. Good training day hike. Too bad it was so cloudy that day.
Redwic - Aug 17, 2009 6:16 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2009
A lot of natural handholds, but...
... the final summit block took me by surprise. I would have been more comfortable if I had not been solo, but I persevered. One small slip, and I would have been a goner. The trail, however, was awesome. I loved seeing the old-growth trees; some of the largest I have ever seen in Washington are on this mountain. There was a small family of mountain goats (one mother, three babies) at the summit, which darted away before I could take a photo of them. Some fresh cougar tracks were near the summit, as well.
kevinsa - Sep 17, 2012 10:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 1996
McClellan ButteGreat hike and great views.
JoelSkok - Sep 15, 2012 9:04 pm Date Climbed: May 7, 1979
Pleasant, invigorating hike/scrambleDid this a few times and always enjoyed it immensely. A real treat
cthomson - Sep 7, 2012 3:06 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2012
Well worth itGreat times.
sgiles - Apr 14, 2012 1:56 pm
great hikeMy favorite day hike in the area. lots of fun
Jake Robinson - Mar 19, 2012 2:21 am Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2010
Good alternative to SiThis is a great training hike with the added bonus of a fun, exposed scramble at the top.
juneauhiker - Feb 3, 2012 1:50 am
3rd attemptI'd climbed the North Gully to ~50 ft below the summit in January and then made another attempt via the summer route in March but turned back because of avalanche conditions, so the summit felt good even though the visibility was lousy. I enjoyed the trail and the summit scramble was fun.
dan-o - Aug 12, 2011 5:58 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2003
Trainer PlusFun conditioning hike with the bonus of a little scramble at the top. Always fun, though getting popular and crowded the last few times I've been up there.
Josh Lewis - Jan 14, 2011 6:48 pm Date Climbed: Jan 7, 2010
So close yet so farTried doing the North Face but my partners were sketched out on some icy rock and such, we got about 50-100 feet from the summit.
lcarreau - Dec 16, 2010 7:53 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 1987
Perfect conditions..Sorry, but I can't see the reason for climbing it under icy conditions. I'll be honest.. it's scary enough under perfect
conditions, when the sun is shining & angels are singing.
Did it back in the 1980s with the Tacoma Mountaineers.
And, can't understand WHY they call it a "butte."
If you want to see a REAL butte, please come to Arizona!
breauxtrahn - Dec 8, 2010 9:32 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2004
shady snowUp on the ridge some snow on steep areas was slushy and troublesome. The scramble is super easy but pretty exposed.
Bryan K - Aug 18, 2010 11:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2010
Don't goofIf you slip on the scramble part you'll end up like hamburger when they find your body down below!
Cascade Scrambler - Jul 28, 2010 12:35 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2010
Easy hikeThis is an easy, laid back hike. The first time Rainier pops out, it feels as if you can almost reach out and touch it. My personal opinion is that the scramble up the summit block from the standard route is overhyped. Also, do yourself a favor and park on FS9020, unless you're using this for conditioning.
EastKing - Jul 14, 2010 1:54 am Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2010
Getting more comfortable scramblingHappy to say that I actually summited this peak. I'm not the best scrambler in the world but I mastered this one. No lose rocks and the handholds and footholds are there. It is just that one short section that is the real challenge. Just don't make a mistake!!!!
Boonie1 - Jul 13, 2010 11:21 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2010
ScrambleScrambling up is always funner than down.
Very few people on the trail for an I-90 corridor hike.
RokIzGud - Mar 22, 2010 12:28 pm Date Climbed: Jan 7, 2010
North Face FailWe tried a winter asent of the North Face and failed 50 vertical feet from the summit. We brought a rack and screws but couldnt find placment at the top.
Darren9 - Nov 7, 2009 2:44 am
many timesclimbed it many times with friends and even the Boy Scouts, all in winter. We had good weather which made it nice. Actually, we were lucky.
snowclimber12 - Sep 25, 2009 10:03 pm Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2009
fun hikegood hike, quite steep for a while, and a fun scramble to the summit. great views from the top.
skook - Aug 31, 2009 5:38 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2005
Great for trainingNice trail with a good scramble to keep it interesting. Good training day hike. Too bad it was so cloudy that day.
Redwic - Aug 17, 2009 6:16 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2009
A lot of natural handholds, but...... the final summit block took me by surprise. I would have been more comfortable if I had not been solo, but I persevered. One small slip, and I would have been a goner. The trail, however, was awesome. I loved seeing the old-growth trees; some of the largest I have ever seen in Washington are on this mountain. There was a small family of mountain goats (one mother, three babies) at the summit, which darted away before I could take a photo of them. Some fresh cougar tracks were near the summit, as well.
WeatherMan - Jul 22, 2009 12:04 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2009
Good quick-tripNice trainig climb with a fun scramble section at the top. Nothing much scarrier than Si for example, but a bit more exposed.