Upper Pinnacle Falls

RATING - 20.0

VR - 2.0 (Sm) HR - 2.0 SR - 16/20

TYPE OF APPROACH - Bushwhack

DIFFICULTY - Difficult

LOCATION - Ptarmigan Ridge

TYPE - Curtain

HEIGHT - 33'

WIDTH - 15'

GPS - N48 50' 18.48" W121 43' 50.07"

ELEVATION - 4460'

DIRECTIONS - No directions provided. Dangerous approach.

Upper Pinnacle Falls is a small volume waterfall where a branch of Wells Creek drops 33' to join the main branch of the creek. The falls occur in a gorgeous meadow near the headwaters of Wells Creek where several small streams cascade down from Ptarmigan Ridge amid a plethora of huckleberry and blueberry plants. Think of this waterfall as more of an accent to the views of the beautiful meadows than a destination. On my first two visits into the area I have been hurt by lack of daylight and fog and rain, but I finally got decent, although sunny, weather on my third trip. The meadows above this waterfall are one of the prettiest places on the entire mountain and if they were located on Mt. Rainier they would probably contain a popular trail and people would rave about their beauty. Being on Baker means they are rarely visited and remain a secret. That's just fine by me.