Eagle Peak Saddle — Friday, Mar. 3, 2006

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise

It was a beautiful day to be at Mt. Rainer. We were aiming for the Eagle Peak saddle, but ended-up on a higher point on the ridge on which the saddle is located. The Eagle Peak trail is a very nice trail that switchbacks easily up through a lovely mature forest. Beware of the snow covered log over the stream. Much safer to go down into the stream bed. From the stream crossing, we used snowshoes. We followed the trail and then continued on tracks from a group of 5 that took a more direct route. Not knowing where the saddle was located, we followed their tracks up a steep slope and ravine to a point on the shoulder of Eagle Peak at about the 5800 foot level. The view of Rainier and of the Tatoosh Range was spectacular. We followed the narrow ridge in the direction of the saddle, but couldn't figure-out a way down to it, so we descended by our ascent route. The snow was stable and held steps well, but in different conditions the route could be risky.