While riding in the back seat of my dad’s Nissan Pathfinder truck up a curving road to cascade forests, all my childhood memories of hiking as a family rushed back. That amazing view from Tolmie Fire Lookout, the wildflowers and bees at Spray Park, hot afternoons, and cold camping nights. I definitely inherited the adventure gene from my folks, so when I was up visiting them a few weekends ago I decided to exchange the favor and take them outside to play once again. For this trip, we went back to familiar stomping grounds at Mt. Rainier National Park but tackled a new trail in the Tatoosh Range.
The Plummer Peak Hike is a 3-mile mile trail that travels from the reflection lakes up a rocky ridge with amazing views of the forests in all directions from the summit. The first half of the trail hikes through forest gradually gaining elevation and exits the forest line as it reaches the saddle between Plummer and Pinnacle Peak. This is the end of the maintained trail. We opted to ventured to the top of Plummer Peak, as Pinnacle includes some crazy scrambling (don’t worry, I’ll be back to climb that one later!), taking the trail to the right. Cambering over some rocky patches and one steep section near a previous fire burn, we climb to its summit with general ease – and plenty of stops for photos of the area.
While the weather wasn’t great, we did get a few amazing views as the fog rolled up behind us and covered the valley to the south, and an occasional peek-a-boo from Mt. Rainier through the clouds. And just like when I was a kid, I fell asleep on drive back home!
Evergreen Hiker 
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