39. Foss Peak, 6524' (S)

Foss is called Manatee Mountain by Peakbagger.com. Foss Peak is not named on USGS maps. It is peak 6524' between The Castle and Unicorn in the Tatoosh Range. You can reach Foss via the Snow Lake trailhead or Pinnacle Peak trailhead, with two options from the latter. Foss Peak is named for Henry Foss, who owned land near the drainage of Foss Creek. Henry Foss was a member of the family that owns the Foss Tug Company.

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Driving

There are two trailheads and three routes for Foss Peak.

Snow Lake trailhead: From the Nisqually Entrance, drive to 1 mile beyond Narada Falls and turn right onto Stevens Canyon Road. Continue another 2 miles and park at the Snow Lake parking lot on the north side of the road.

Pinnacle Peak trailhead: From the Nisqually Entrance, drive to 1 mile beyond Narada Falls and turn right onto Stevens Canyon Road. Continue another 1.5 miles and park at the Reflection Lake parking lot on the north side of the road (elevation 4870').

Route

Snow Lake trailhead: Take the trail to Snow Lake and follow a bootpath past the lake. Climb the gully until you reach the basin above 5400'. Next, head toward the ridge and saddle at 6150'. From the saddle, head mostly northerly toward the peak.

Pinnacle Peak trailhead: Across from the parking area, begin on the Pinnacle Peak Trail and follow it to the saddle at 5940'. From the saddle, head east below Pinnacle and The Castle to Foss. There is a footpath for much of the way. The only tricky part is crossing over the ridge to the south of The Castle. This portion has some class 3 rock. It may help to descend a bit (100'–200'), where it is easier to cross over the ridge. This should not be tried unless you are comfortable on class 3 rock. If you ask, “What is class 3 rock?” it probably means you shouldn’t try it.

Pinnacle Peak trailhead and saddle east of The Castle: This is perhaps the easiest route to Foss. This route leaves the Pinnacle Peak Trail at 5200' and ascends to the saddle just east of The Castle. After leaving the trail at 5215', follow a bearing of 147 degrees. Way trails lead to the saddle. In spring, particularly if there is avalanche risk, it is best to stay on the ridge to the left (east) of the basin. From the saddle, head east to the summit at a bearing of approximately 110.There is a thick clump of trees above a small tarn and close to the summit. There is no elegant way to poke through. (Thanks to Henry Romer for route information)

Comments

Generally, there is considerable snow in the gully above Snow Lake until late summer. Bring an ice ax and maybe even crampons, in case you encounter hard snow. Foss can be done as a traverse with one car at the Snow Lake trailhead and one at the Pinnacle Peak trailhead.

Vital Statistics: Foss Peak

• Skill: Moderate scramble

• Beauty: 6

• Effort: 4

• Round-trip distance

  • via Snow Lake trailhead: 5 miles

  • via Pinnacle Peak trailhead: 4.5 miles

  • via Pinnacle Peak trailhead and saddle east of The Castle: 3.7 miles

• Elevation gain

  • via Snow Lake trailhead: 2300'

  • via Pinnacle Peak trailhead: 2200'

  • via Pinnacle Peak trailhead and saddle east of The Castle: 2000'

• Total time: 5 hours via Snow Lake, 6 via Pinnacle Peak

• Best season: June through September

• Equipment: Scramble gear, crampons for Snow Lake approach

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