Fuhrer Finger Nisqually Glacier

The quintessential classic volcano descent, the Fuhrer Finger's inclusion in the Fifty Classics book and YouTube series cemented its popularity.

The Fuhrer Finger refers to a specific section of an enormous descent, where a broad gully or "finger" of snow splits the steep, rockfall prone cliffs. Above the finger the route changes year to year, piecing together a path through the variable upper mountain and maze-like Nisqually glacier. Below the finger the descent continues for thousands of feet of glaciated features into the valley below.

Many variations of this well-traveled route exist, with the Wapowety Cleaver providing an alternative direct entrance via panels of snow, the Fuhrer Thumb providing a steeper alternative chute and fun variation, and the Nisqually Icefall providing a more extreme glacier descent. Hazards to mitigate include frequent rockfall, active glaciers, and other parties in the zone.