The Return of Neighbor Greg - Tamanos Mountain, 7.25.20
My dear friend and hiking buddy Neighbor Greg has had a rough time of it this year. Work only allows weekends to hike and it seemed like every weekend this year has been crappy weather or one of us had a prior commitment. Yesterday we finally got to get out and do a hike and we picked a great one, Tamanos Mountain.
Tamanos is one of many sub peaks that surround the immense volcano of Mount Rainier. We have climbed several peaks surrounding the mountain over the years and this one is right up there with the best of them. I had been up to the summit one other time way back in 1993 with Bridgit and her sister Cathy. This would be Greg’s first time on Tamanos.
We left home at 5AM and got to the trailhead just inside the Sunrise entrance to Mount Rainier National Park at 7:15AM. There are all kinds of trails and some are extremely hard on your knees and feet with tons of roots, rocks and stream crossings to contend with. On the other hand, the trail we were hiking was incredibly smooth and gently graded for the first three miles to Owyhigh Lakes. This was a dream when hiking back down after a long day of mountain climbing.
After three miles of wonderful tread, the trail gradually left the woods. Immediately we were greeted with an insane display of flowers of every shape, size and color that didn’t stop all the way to the summit of Tamanos. Soon we arrived at the lovely Owyhigh Lakes.
Flower show
Owyhigh Lakes with Governor’s Ridge and Barrier Peak behind
Beyond the lakes we began to see a high, meadowy ridge which is where we were headed. We stopped here to slather up with sunscreen.
First meadow beyond Owyhigh Lakes. We aimed for the saddle in the top right side of the photo.
This is where the steep climbing began. There were no switchbacks, just a deeply rutted route straight up towards the ridge. Despite the angle, the hiking seemed easy as new vistas would appear with each step.
Greg coming up the meadows. Cowlitz Chimneys tower above.
After a bunch of vertical gain we topped out at a saddle that provided us with our first in your face panorama of the incredible Mount Rainier.
Me at the saddle
Off to the west of the summit we had a great view of Banshee Peak and the Cowlitz Chimneys. Wow! Greg and I had done an epic fifteen mile day several years ago to the summit of Banshee Peak so it was really cool to see it from this angle.
From left to right: Main Cowlitz Chimney, North Cowlitz Chimney (below), Middle Cowlitz Chimney, Banshee Peak, Rainier on far right
Once we hit the saddle we followed the edge of the ridge up to what would appear to be the summit, but it’s not. From the rocky knob there is still a rough scramble along the top edge of a very rocky ridge line further to the north to reach the true summit. Most people don’t bother with the scramble so we had the summit all to ourselves on a Saturday.
Neighbor Greg in his element
With Peakfinder labels
Cool piece of wood
Zombie skeleton scorpions attacking the summit block
Greg on summit with Governor’s Ridge above Owyhigh Lakes
Tamanos provides an outstanding vantage point to see peaks both near and far. Beginning at Rainier and going clockwise, we could see Sunrise Visitor Center and Mt. Fremont, Shuksan, Glacier Peak, Lemah and Chickamin, The Stuart Range, Chinook Pass area, Governor’s Ridge and Barrier Peak, the Goat Rocks, Mt Adams and even Mt. Hood in Oregon.
Mt. Adams
Mount Rainier
Obligatory selfie
The Goat Rocks. I climbed Old Snowy (far right) last year
The flower display in the high meadows was incredible!
Lower saddle and Cowlitz Chimneys
Moon over Governor’s Ridge
Neighbor Greg and I had a really great climb and with light traffic we managed to get back in time to do burgers on the barbie with Donna and Bridgit. I’d call that a good day!