[TrailPair]

Three years ago, on our way to do Observation Rock, we spotted a perfect campsite, which we have wanted to visit ever since. We decided to take a chance on the weather on Saturday morning. After stopping at the cloudy Carbon River RS for a cross-country camping permit, we were pleasantly surprised to arrive at a sunny Mowich Lake. We were above the clouds, and there must have been a temperature inversion, because it was a balmy 60 degrees. We started on the unmaintained trail to Knapsack Pass, which is found just left of the guard station. Quickly the trail takes you to beautiful alpine meadows. From the pass the route drops steeply on scree, and then goes through a boulder field. There are some misleading cairns, but we soon discovered that the best route stays high on the slope. Once you reach the shoulder of Mt. Pleasant the trail resumes, and intersects the Wonderland trail at about 6060ft. We turned left, climbed about 250ft to the highpoint where the boot trail for Echo/Observation begins. Most of this trail is easy to follow, with a little route finding through a few small boulder fields.

Fay Peak and Mowich Lake from Knapsack Pass.

Route across boulders below Knapsack Pass.

Spray Park

Four hours after leaving Mowich Lake we set up camp. We headed towards the Echo-Observation col. The Flett glacier is a mess! It has runnels, small crevasses, and we could hear a river running under it! We stayed to the south side to avoid the river, and needed crampons to ascend the icy snow. We noticed that swinging even farther south we could find better snow for the descent. From the col Observation Rock was looking pretty bony. It has way less snow that last time we were there, and that was is Oct. 2004. Ice climbers enjoy climbing the north face, but saw little ice today. We turned north, ascended to the shoulder of Echo. From here it looked difficult, but turned out to be not too bad! First we crossed boulders to an apparent ramp, and then we found a "boot path" that lead to the top. The sunset was fantastic! Three other backpackers camped below us. Apparently they were to be joined by 8 other mountaineers for an ice climb on Observation. Unfortunately, Sunday morning the fog engulfed the mountain! It made route finding on the way out interesting. We returned via the Wonderland trail, getting back to Mowich Lake three hours after breaking camp. Gorgeous trip and fun scramble!

On Echo Rock

K on Flett Glacier

A sea of clouds.

Tarn of Flett Glacier

Mt. Rainier from shoulder of Echo

Sunset from campsite

Trail to Echo

Observation Rock from col.

South side of Echo Rock

Flett Glacier

SW side of Echo Rock

Bob on the summit of Echo Rock

Sunset on Echo Rock from campsite

Terminus of Flett Glacier

[the Zachster]

Nice report, looks like a great trip! I skipped Echo the last time we were in there, partly because it looked like just a big ole pile of loose rock. Did you have any concerns with loose rock/rockfall?

[TrailPair]

[TrailPair]

[twodogdad]

The stark lines of "Trail to Echo" are magnificent--and the title itself, which can be read in more ways than one. I sure missed this outing (though the boys and I had a pretty good time at dog-friendly Alta). N

[wildernessed]

Great pics and colors. That glacier looks user friendly.

[Bryan K]

Love the sea of clouds picture