adamschneider - Aug 8, 2013 3:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2013
Evening on Pinnacle
Started on the trail from Reflection Lakes at about 4pm on a Tuesday. I passed a lot of people who were coming down, but once I reached the saddle I had the whole place to myself. The first part of the ascent was loose and scree-ish, but it got more solid, steeper, and more fun as I went higher. I wanted to watch the sunset from the top, but I decided I'd better head down just after 6:00 because I had a 3-hour drive back to Portland ahead of me!
telemarkdude - Oct 9, 2012 1:28 am Date Climbed: Oct 12, 1986
South Side - Class 3
Quick and easy scramble. Didn't seem as loose as everyone here says it is.
pingzingr - Oct 9, 2012 1:28 am Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2012
#1 of 3
Came back this weekend to get Pinnacle Peak and The Castle...ended up linking in Foss Peak. Pinnacle was a great Class 3-4 climb and enjoyable start to the day. Great views and great weather.
The Falcon Guide claims this is class 2. Which turned out to be a good way to get me to try a class 4 route. Kinda proud of myself. Incredible views.
CzechMark - Aug 27, 2012 2:03 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
Super Fun
Super fun route up the back side from the saddle. It certainly pushes the limits of scrambling in the Cascades.
nicozone - Jul 30, 2012 4:08 am Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2012
Close but no cigar
After deciding that Unicorn wasn't enough climbing for the drive time from Corvallis, we decided to do Pinnacle with very little knowledge of the route. We assumed that we had to follow the southwest ridge to the summit, which was a big mistake; the scree is "to die for" in that area. We struggled to downclimb without dislodging some of the bigger pieces.
Parked at Narada Falls and headed up the road to the Reflection Lakes trailhead. We actually ended up booting up to the Castle-Pinnacle saddle, and then traversing around the backside of Pinnacle to hit the SW gully. Great climb, super straightforward, and awesome views of the rest of the Tatoosh!
Climbed Pinnacle and Castle yesterday with BoeAlps. Both fun, but beware climbing the south face class 4 scramble on Pinnacle; lots of loose rock, some pretty big pieces too. Make sure your party stays off to the right out of harms way. Snow conditions were great for kicking steps. Quite a few moats on the south face of Pinnacle from the saddle between Castle to the gully. Parked at Narrada Falls and hiked up to the road. The road is plowed to Reflection Lake and beyond, not sure why it isn't open. Any questions, send me a message.
Socorro - Oct 20, 2011 1:06 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2005
Fun but scary
I remember this climb being slightly terrifying, but super fun and really rewarding. The scary part was the way down. We climbed at dusk and had an incredible view - the whole sky was pink and orange. Gorgeous.
MMclimbhigh - Oct 7, 2011 2:06 am Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2005
S. Ridge
What a view!
awilsondc - Aug 27, 2011 8:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2011
Route Climbed - SW ridge
Great little scramble. Combined this one with Plummer Peak since it seemed to be the cool thing to do. :) The ridge looked pretty intimidating from the summit of Plummer Peak but as I kept going up, it seemed less intimidating. It was still pretty steep with some exposure once you get high enough. A fall would not turn out well. I enjoyed the summit, but thought the views from Plummer were better, probably since you get to look at Pinnacle. Anyway, great hike and scramble. A classic. I'll have to do this one again when I need a quick scrambling fix.
Fred Spicker - Jul 19, 2011 6:36 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2011
South Side Normal
With Moni - add one more opinion on the rating - Class 3
Moni - Jul 19, 2011 5:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2011
South Side
With Fred. Combined with The Castle. Went in the regular way then around from the east side of the The Castle back to Reflection Lake to make a nice loop. Still tons of snow - ice axe and crampons were helpful. Rock itself was dry. Managed to snag the one decent weather day - drove home in the rain the next day.
RomaK - Jul 5, 2011 8:50 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2011
Standard from Plummer-Pinnacle saddle
All snow from Reflection lakes parking lot until the scramble to the top. Fun scramble with great views of Rainier and also Adams, Hood, and St Helens to the south.
adamschneider - Aug 8, 2013 3:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2013
Evening on PinnacleStarted on the trail from Reflection Lakes at about 4pm on a Tuesday. I passed a lot of people who were coming down, but once I reached the saddle I had the whole place to myself. The first part of the ascent was loose and scree-ish, but it got more solid, steeper, and more fun as I went higher. I wanted to watch the sunset from the top, but I decided I'd better head down just after 6:00 because I had a 3-hour drive back to Portland ahead of me!
telemarkdude - Oct 9, 2012 1:28 am Date Climbed: Oct 12, 1986
South Side - Class 3Quick and easy scramble. Didn't seem as loose as everyone here says it is.
mcross - Nov 12, 2014 10:54 pm
Re: South Side - Class 3Agreed!
InfinityMountaineering03 - Oct 3, 2019 1:07 am
Re: South Side - Class 3It's a pretty solid scramble from my experiences.
pingzingr - Oct 9, 2012 1:28 am Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2012
#1 of 3Came back this weekend to get Pinnacle Peak and The Castle...ended up linking in Foss Peak. Pinnacle was a great Class 3-4 climb and enjoyable start to the day. Great views and great weather.
seanpeckham - Sep 30, 2012 11:47 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2012
South sideThe Falcon Guide claims this is class 2. Which turned out to be a good way to get me to try a class 4 route. Kinda proud of myself. Incredible views.
CzechMark - Aug 27, 2012 2:03 am Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
Super FunSuper fun route up the back side from the saddle. It certainly pushes the limits of scrambling in the Cascades.
nicozone - Jul 30, 2012 4:08 am Date Climbed: Jul 29, 2012
Close but no cigarAfter deciding that Unicorn wasn't enough climbing for the drive time from Corvallis, we decided to do Pinnacle with very little knowledge of the route. We assumed that we had to follow the southwest ridge to the summit, which was a big mistake; the scree is "to die for" in that area. We struggled to downclimb without dislodging some of the bigger pieces.
bellinghamclimber - May 20, 2012 1:15 am Date Climbed: May 19, 2012
Pinnacle SW gullyParked at Narada Falls and headed up the road to the Reflection Lakes trailhead. We actually ended up booting up to the Castle-Pinnacle saddle, and then traversing around the backside of Pinnacle to hit the SW gully. Great climb, super straightforward, and awesome views of the rest of the Tatoosh!
MrHound - Apr 30, 2012 12:22 pm Date Climbed: Apr 29, 2012
Look out below!Climbed Pinnacle and Castle yesterday with BoeAlps. Both fun, but beware climbing the south face class 4 scramble on Pinnacle; lots of loose rock, some pretty big pieces too. Make sure your party stays off to the right out of harms way. Snow conditions were great for kicking steps. Quite a few moats on the south face of Pinnacle from the saddle between Castle to the gully. Parked at Narrada Falls and hiked up to the road. The road is plowed to Reflection Lake and beyond, not sure why it isn't open. Any questions, send me a message.
Socorro - Oct 20, 2011 1:06 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2005
Fun but scaryI remember this climb being slightly terrifying, but super fun and really rewarding. The scary part was the way down. We climbed at dusk and had an incredible view - the whole sky was pink and orange. Gorgeous.
MMclimbhigh - Oct 7, 2011 2:06 am Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2005
S. RidgeWhat a view!
awilsondc - Aug 27, 2011 8:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2011
Route Climbed - SW ridgeGreat little scramble. Combined this one with Plummer Peak since it seemed to be the cool thing to do. :) The ridge looked pretty intimidating from the summit of Plummer Peak but as I kept going up, it seemed less intimidating. It was still pretty steep with some exposure once you get high enough. A fall would not turn out well. I enjoyed the summit, but thought the views from Plummer were better, probably since you get to look at Pinnacle. Anyway, great hike and scramble. A classic. I'll have to do this one again when I need a quick scrambling fix.
Fred Spicker - Jul 19, 2011 6:36 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2011
South Side NormalWith Moni - add one more opinion on the rating - Class 3
Moni - Jul 19, 2011 5:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2011
South SideWith Fred. Combined with The Castle. Went in the regular way then around from the east side of the The Castle back to Reflection Lake to make a nice loop. Still tons of snow - ice axe and crampons were helpful. Rock itself was dry. Managed to snag the one decent weather day - drove home in the rain the next day.
RomaK - Jul 5, 2011 8:50 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2011
Standard from Plummer-Pinnacle saddleAll snow from Reflection lakes parking lot until the scramble to the top. Fun scramble with great views of Rainier and also Adams, Hood, and St Helens to the south.
ExcitableBoy - Dec 30, 2010 9:32 am
North Ridge in winterAttempted the North Ridge in winter. Turned around at a steep, hard to protect looking gendarme.
gato - Oct 6, 2010 11:45 am
Training dayAlpine training on the S aspect, good day on the mountain!
JGHarrison - Sep 28, 2009 2:02 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2009
from the saddleFun stuff, good view
vermeer - Jul 25, 2009 10:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2009
Semi Tatoosh TraverseWith Plummer, Denman, Lane, and Wahpenayo. A little more snow would have helped the side-hilling between them all.