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Banshee is wonderful day hike, with spectacular views of Rainier and surrounding territory. The round trip is almost 14 miles but well worth the distance. Central or Main Cowlitz Chimney can be added for a two-fer. Though the last 1.5 miles is off-trail, there is a good boot path part way with no technical obstacles. There are often mountain goats on this outing. Please be sure to stay distant from them. The origin of Banshee’s name is unknown.
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Driving
Drive SR 410 4.5 miles south of the Crystal Mountain ski area turnoff and turn right on Sunrise Park Road. Drive 4.5 miles, until you cross the Fryingpan River Bridge. Park just beyond the bridge on the right side of the road. The Summerland trailhead is on the west side of the road.
Route
From the Summerland trailhead, hike 5.4 miles to Panhandle Gap. Leave the trail at the gap and head east on a footpath that sidehills a small peaklet and then reaches open country. Continue heading east (a footpath is visible when snow is gone but this footpath may disappear in the meadow - other down slope game paths may be present heading toward the Main or Central Cowlitz.); The peak is reached at 6.8 miles from the trailhead. (Thanks to Henry Romer for helpful suggestions.)
Comments
Tread lightly on fragile tundra. Flowers in early summer are awesome. Most folks would likely climb Banshee as part of a trip to Main or Central Cowlitz Chimney, as Banshee is virtually on the way.
Vital Statistics: Banshee
Skill: Easy scramble, mostly a hike
Beauty: 8
Effort: 6
Round-trip distance: 13.6 miles (10.8 on-trail, 2.8 miles on mostly bootpath)
Elevation gain: 3900'
Total time: 8 hours
Best season: June through September
Equipment: Scramble gear
Banshee Topo
(use CalTopo to print PDF topo, view Google Earth, download tracks, for trailhead weather) [How to ?]
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