Tuesday, February 28 . Once you reach Spray creek you will see the falls up to your left. The Wonderland Trail first departs Longmire into the forest, taking you past Rampart Ridge. That family and another couple were swimming and cooling off in the lake, and we quickly joined them. Mike found a bridge on the North Mowich, but the South Mowich had to be forded. With our tents and sleeping bags waiting for us, we changed out some gear in our packs and fell into bed. FINISHER MEDAL, for the f Daily elevation gains and losses of over 3,500 feet are common. Beautiful views. We celebrate in camp with a bonfire, burgers, and a dutch oven crisp. Running Around Mt. In other words, I wasnt thinking well. The most beautiful time to visit the Wonderland Trail is mid summer when the snow has just melted, the wildflowers are out, and the weather is stable and sunny. However, you can still get there by bike, and I think itd be a worthwhile day trip to ride up to the South Puyallup Trail and hike up to Emerald Ridge. All photos copyright Sarah Brouwer and me. DORSET TOWN TRAILS Chris Jesty 1985 1st PB illust. for updates. Kept with sunscreen & hand sanitizer in shoulder pocket. All text copyright me. Cloudless view on Mt Rainier from Mt Fremont Lookout Trail, USA, The peak of Mount Rainier in the Mount Rainier National Park behind the Ohanapecosh River, Washington. In another half mile, we arrived at Reflection Lakes. this will surely happen as I get older but I am encouraged by the fact that, at age 66, this was probably my best 3 day hike since the 90s. When to go: July-September. Monday, July 30: Drive to Longmire, start on the Wonderland Trail at 6:01 a.m., arrive at Mowich Lake at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 31: Leave Mowich Lake at 6:30 a.m., arrive at Sunrise Visitor Center around 5:45 p.m. (in time for burgers!) The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile loop around the base of Mt. The best time to hike the Wonderland Trail is mid-July through September. Be careful crossing the river. My worst experience on the Wonderland Trail was three days in which it didn't stop raining for even a minute. Alpha One Niner Evade 1.5 Backpack Review, Wim Hof Method 10-Week Video Course Review, Osprey Raptor 14 Mountain Bike Backpack Review, AAJ 096: Stevens Pass to Snoqualmie Pass Run/Hike Adventure, Feel Good Friday Key Lime Pie RC Cars Jackson Hole Recipes, CrossFit Endurance & Trusting the Workouts. ** Check out the photos from last years race!!!! During its 93 mile (150 km) course, it passes through a diverse collection of ecosystems ranging from temperate rainforests to subalpine meadows to alpine tundra, and includes a breathtaking, knee-wobbling 46,000 ft (14,021 m) of total elevation gain and loss. There are no words. This is a prime tent spot for the sunset alone, which lights up Rainier at dusk. Rainier, that shows off its volcanic nature as well as its meadows and forests and glaciers. Or, if you dont mind the busier alternate route, hike through Spray Park, a wildflower paradise. My Suggested Time: 5 days Possible Time: 2 or 3 days Most Popular Months: July/August Booking Required: Yes* Application Cost: $20 (per group) There were Wonderland Trail signs along the way, marking our expected interactions with the day hikers and tourists. Your email address will not be published. At the bottom of the ridge, youll end up at Nickel Creek and another section of forest. The Wonderland Trail in 3 Days (Day 1) - AllAroundJoe The Wonderland Trail in 3 Days (Day 1) September 10, 2013 By Joe Bauer 0 Comments With the Wonderland Trail behind me and the soreness still lingering in my legs I write you this story about our 3 day, 93 mile journey around Mt Rainier. For this I am thankful and look forward to next years Wonderland Trail Hike #34, whatever form that may take. Wide shoulder straps are among the most comfortable I have tried / Robic material is durable and has good water resistance / Outside pockets are easily accessible (i.e. Our trip itinerary was as follows: Starting from Sunrise on Sunday, August 1st, we headed in the counter-clockwise direction and stayed at the following tentsites: Day 1: Mystic Lake Day 2: Mowich Lake Camp Day 3: Golden Lakes Camp Day 4: Klapatche Park Camp Day 5: Devil's Dream Camp Day 6: Paradise River Camp Day 7: Nickel Creek Camp Rainier). Get started here, and when you have your hike planned, apply . Originally, our itinerary was as follows: Enter Sunrise Trailhead and Fire Creek Camp: Friday, July 3 rd Carbon River Camp: Saturday, July 4 th Mystic Camp: Sunday, July 5 th Exit Sunrise Trailhead: Monday, July 6 th If I was to hike the Wonderland Trail (COVID-19 permitting) later this year, this is the gear is I would carry: Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links, which means The Hiking Life receives a small commission if you purchase an item after clicking on one of the links. There are more than 500 miles of hiking trails in Shenandoah National Park, climbing up to granite summits or running down into the park's characteristic woodland hollows. to help you prepare. It seemed possible that we would have to turn back and give up on our trip. Thanks for the great guide as usual Swami! Day 5: 16.2 miles to Maple Creek campsite. Be sure to check the, received its fitting moniker a century ago to the year (1920) when, The requests are then processed in random order, meaning that there is no guarantee of success. Otherwise I had no physical problems. I hiked a section of the WT via walk up permit the other week and just wanted to mention that you do apparently still need a permit for the 3 front country sites. I was fit enough to enjoy less suffering than last year and more time enjoying my surroundings. When to Go. My feet needed no attention and my pack was unnoticeable. Satisfy . After some discussion, most of us felt confident about going, but not everyone. The mountains are serious business. Olympic Coast Route: The hardest thing I didnt finish, Affords hikers and runners views of all sides of Mt. Length: 93 miles Elevation gain/ loss: 22,000 ft (23,000 ft with the Spray Park Alternate) Time to complete: 9-12 days (we completed in 6.5, some people do it in 3 days!) The trail starts rather anticlimactically by running along the road for a bit, and then starts heading up Rampart Ridge (and ironically taking us right by Cougar Rock campground). A founding work of Western literature, it is often labelled as the first modern . Imagine exploring both rainforests and vibrant mountain meadows within just a few miles on the same trail, all with a glacier-capped volcano rising in the background. A DORSET WONDERLAND Susan Brett 1986 1st PB illust. Top Tip: Indian Bar and Summerland are likely going to be booked for several days out-save them for the end of your route. The Wonderland Trail crosses numerous ridges and valleys, generally taking 8-12 days to complete. The one caution I didnt see in the article is that snow can often covers long sections of the trail through much of July and you can easily get off track especially in white-out conditions. Make sure to bring insulation and a rain shell; this is the PNW alpine, and storms arent unlikely. The Wonderland Trail climbs and falls 23,000 feet over those 93 miles. Rainier National Park, eat at the National Park Inn at Longmire, sleep at Cougar Rock Campground. They drove us to Longmire and we took all the obligatory group photos, and then we were off. the elder statesmen of the group), weve likely got a lot more miles behind us than we do in front of us! Which is kind of how you pace yourself. We first headed up to Emerald Ridge, which was breathtaking! Timberline Trail in a day - 44 miles (with detour) with 9600 ft. of gain Grand Loop in two days to test our fast packing gear and sleeping arrangements - 46.6 miles with 13, 027 ft. of gain Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake - 28 miles with 4134 ft. of gain. In the northeast corner, the Sunrise Entrance has a few spots to access the Wonderland Trail, by the Sunrise Visitor Center and lower on the road by White River Campground. Ipsut Creek Camp is not too far from Mowich and offers a lowland experience by the Carbon River. In 2020, Tynesha and I completed the trail in 4 nights/5 days, with our longest day being 24+ miles. friend. To start planning, first determine how far you and your group are capable of hiking with a heavy overnight pack. If you can swing it with the dates, I recommend doing the hike around mid to late September in order to avoid the crowds, the bugs, and if youre lucky, possibly catch the beginning of the fall colours. Tolmie Peak Lookout has one of the best vantage points of Rainier. It is a trail that leads through primeval forests, close to the mighty glaciers, past waterfalls and dashing torrents, up over ridges, and down into canyons; it leads through a veritable wonderland of beauty and grandeur.. Allow 10 to 14 days to hike the entire trail, depending on your daily average. Marmots.. Mike encouraged me to make the call the next morning, and see how I felt after a nights sleep. I highly recommend eating at Wildberry restaurant, located just down the road from Longmire Wilderness Information Center (7.6 mi / 14 minutes drive). Spring is also tricky since the large amount of snowmelt creates extreme flows that can damage bridges and trails, which will need to be fixed by a trail crew before visitors can safely pass. Tired of Not Looking or Feeling the Way You Want?. Day 7: 10 miles back to White River trailhead. Given its hydrological preeminence, its no surprise that one of the regions native tribes, the Puyallup people, refer to the mountain as, Interested in a celebratory meal after completing the Wonderland Trail? I was under the impression that I wouldnt, but you do need a reservation for each site according to the ranger that helped me. (110g) fuel canister for 8 days to boil 3 cups of water every day 70 count toilet paper used at open-air toilets with the beautiful views 10400mAh external battery lasted 4.5 days, charging the . At one point, it crosses a creek and then ascend an evil set of stairs. Wei. It was getting pretty hot by now, and we were careful to hydrate, maintain electrolytes (Nuun, Tailwind, and S-Caps were our friends on this trip), and slow down a bit to keep things under control. Very durable Ive had the same pair since 2016. Highest Elevation: 6,750 ft (2,060 m) Panhandle Gap, Lowest Elevation: 2,320 ft (720 m) Ipsut Creek Campground. YOU'RE IN!!! Although the view at the end of the pathway is good, I highly recommend scrambling up the true right side of the watercourse to the base of the falls. Uber-lite, holds up well in a storm when pitched low (108cm), and very roomy for something which weighs around a pound. As you continue past the field of purple lupine flowers surrounding Squaw Lake, youll quickly find yourself at Indian Henrys Hunting Grounds. It can be completed in 7-10 days. Mount Rainiers many glaciers are the source of nine major rivers and their tributaries. 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