[williswall]

I've been wanting to explore this divide for a few years so finally got to it. Weather of late has been an impediment to some of my plans and originally this was to be a two day trip where I hit the Success Divide on day one then forge up the Puyallup Cleaver on day two. However, one can see from the photos that despite an overall good day weather wise, the clouds covering Rainier were hovering around the 8000 foot level, and since the following day's forecast called for increasing clouds and eventually rain, I decided to bag day two and save that for a pristine day, if it turns up when I am not working. This is a straight forward hike up to the base of Pyramid Peak, but I found skirting around to acquire the divide was slightly complicated, with myriad tiny cliff bands and, with the exception of one tiny stretch, nary a hint at a trail or an indication that someone has been there before you. Of course this is what makes this hike special, in that very few people come here. Once I finally found a way down to the divide after wandering too far left, travel was not especially pleasant. Loose rock and scree set the tone once above some grassy areas, and some of it is downright nasty. Probably the nastiest part was the final ridge scramble to my high point at 7800 feet, where I was really showing my age. Step, slide, huff puff, repeat. Continuing above this point was not necessary as the views I was seeking were available right at this level and the clouds were lingering slightly above me. In this case, unlike say Mt. Ruth where the glaciers are far below, it seems like you can reach out and touch the South Tahoma Glacier, and my vantage point allowed close up looks at the seracs and interesting morphology of the ice as it spilled over a steep grade. Despite no views upward to the mountain proper, the views west and south were fantastic, even being able to pick out the Tahoma Creek suspension bridge down the gully of the origins of Tahoma Creek. Although fall colors were sparse with areas like Indian Henrys looking winterlike, what patches I did see were vibrant and amazing....I just love hiking in the fall. This round trip worked out to be 22 miles with 5400 feet of elevation gain/loss.

1. Alder Lake

2. Alder Lake 2

3. Alder Lake 3

4. Alder Lake 4

5. Fall Color

6. tarn below Indian Henrys

7. fall colors on tarn below Indian Henrys

8. fall on the Wonderland

9. Indian Henrys ready for winter

10. Jeff sucks

11. Pyramid Peak, Success divide left

12. fall colors in Pyramid Park

13. Success Divide, S.Tahoma Glacier left

13. terrain skirting Pyramid Peak, Success cleaver center

14. S. Tahoma glacier up close

15. S. Tahoma Glacier, Glacier Island left

16. Glacier Island

16. the view

17. Adams and layers

18. pano from 7800'

19. Glacier Island below prominence

20. gnarly terrain

22. S. Tahoma Glacier up close and personal

23. Tahoma Creek origin

24. snout of the S. Tahoma Glacier

24. tarn below Pyramid Peak

21. points of interest

25. dripping moss wall

26. Iron and Copper Mountains right

26. not the Enchantments

27. Mirror Lakes

27. reflecting tarn

29. Success Divide

30. peekaboo sunset

31. moon and contrails

32. parting shot

negotiating rocks

Success Divide elevation profile

Success Divide Ground Track

Edit: seems I've transited this area a few times this year so did this 3 shot view:

Indian Henrys 3 season

[Distel32]

[puzzlr]

[williswall]

[Magellan]

Great story and exploration. I've wanted to climb this ridge since I figured out that one doesn't have to cross a glacier to summit. Perhaps some snow would be helpful.

[Bernardo]

Nice trip. Thanks for posting.

[silence]

There's actually a pretty obvious climber's path that traverses around Pyramid. Been on it twice. We were up there early season this year with some hard snow still lingering, and without ice axes or crampons we thought it was too dicey for us because the creek below was running strong. However, yes, it's a non-technical climb to the summit. We talked with a climber (we were both on our way out) who did it in 1 nite, 2 days.

[Jetlag]

Great TR and photos! This is the view I see distantly from my house. After the two glacial outbursts, I went up to MRNP to hear the glacier scientists discuss the events, finding that both DID originate at the shrinking South Tahoma terminus. The second outburst was larger, but no one was there to shoot a video of it. Magellan, I do NOT recommend the Success Cleaver route, unless you attempt it after avalanche danger has passed and before all that dangerous loose rock surfaces. Even more than the glacier-less north ridge on Adams, the route has a very short climbing window. I would be happy to accompany you to the summit on a better route. Also, hoping for more rain to fill Alder Lake soon. Reps from the dams, the tribe and WSFW meet every week to adjust the water level. Tacoma City Light just raised the dam's outflow from 550 cubic feet per second to 750 CFS so that the lower Nisqually weir could continue to separate wild Chinook from hatchery fish.

[williswall]

[silence]

It's a grade II climb, but still I thought it was risky doing it solo. He climbed Jun 5 and 6 this year and said it was pretty straightforward, except for some rock fall. Yes agreed, according to Gauthier there is quite a bit of exposure. Shot on the 6th while on our way out

Mount Rainier

We've only summitted via the Emmons, but really wished we could've done the Tahoma as well, but now we're just too old for it.

[Hikingqueen]

Great Pics! I know that Jeff! He's a real SOB, used to work for the MRNP and does that *HIT! He also has JEFF ROCKS tattoo on his nuckles in case he forgets how cool he is? He also carved Snow Pounders into that building somewhere, did you see that? He took pic and posted it on FB years ago! I was SO PISSED when i saw it!

[Popcorn]

13. terrain skirting Pyramid Peak, Success cleaver center

Great place to find a flat rock to sleep on, and watch the sun set on Tacoma/Puget Sound.

[Now I Fly]

Great report! Thanks for writing it! Think I'll attempt it tomorrow (I have three days)! Can't wait to try anyways!

[Kascadia]

Nice TR and photos! Had a spectacular ON camp on a ledge at ~10,000 feet on Success Cleaver several decades ago. If one continues up, I would suggest a helmet, it is an exceedingly large pile of dookie.....

[Bruce Albert]