For this I am thankful and look forward to next years Wonderland Trail Hike #34, whatever form that may take. Once again I am thankful to be healthy enough to pull off another 3 day transit of Mt. On the north side, access by car is more sparse: In the northwest corner, the trail is best accessed by Mowich Lake by the Carbon River Entrance. Tuesday, February 28 . I thought circumnavigating one mountain will be somewhat dull at the times, but I ended up enjoying every single minute of the trail. Its been so long that I dont remember why that trip never came together. Once across, we had a long hot climb up to St. Andrews Lake. For the average backpacker, a longer trip will be a more pleasant way to enjoy this park. Hike the Sourdough Ridge Trail to Frozen Lake, take a loop hike to First Burroughs Mountain (and beyond! 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. We celebrate in camp with a bonfire, burgers, and a dutch oven crisp. Most of my past Wonderland hikes have been in the fall, so this circuit in July provided some significant contrasts. For a 2-week hike, you can cut the mileage down to about 7 miles per day. Use the Wonderland Trail Planning Website in the Ranger Station. That is about 9-13 miles a day. After crossing Kautz Creek, we continued our way up. Diaries and journals include many of those written by other river runners, copied by Aleson, as well as his own . Total Elevation Gain & Loss: More than 46,000 ft (14,021 m). Basically, everything between Summerland and Indian Bar are part of what I consider heaven on earthbeautiful meadows, high alpine ecosystems, stellar views of the Mountain! Top-end wrapped in orange tape so I wont lose it. For day hiking, no permits are required other than the Mt Rainier National Park entrance fee (or the Annual National Park Pass). Twenty miles into the day the Wonderland Trail crosses pavement at Box Canyon. 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. Eunice Lake below is teeming with wildflowers. The day started with a long descent down a stunning canyon to Ipset Creek and ultimately the Carbon River. Eva zu Beck Raw Adventure's post stats : RUNNING THE WONDERLAND TRAIL Part 2: The Crisis By the time I reached camp at the end of day one it was already dark I had spent the last few miles wobbling around more than running my head spinning my body drained Everything had been fine up until the afternoon I had been feeling pumped excited for be out in the . Take some time to enjoy the Mowich section, where you can restock with your food cache at the patrol cabin, catch up with friends over lunch by the picnic tables, or take a stroll around the many trails here. It contains detailed information for more than 200 of the worlds great hikes and was put together with the mission of inspiring and enabling folks to go backpacking. Wei. Or, if you dont mind the busier alternate route, hike through Spray Park, a wildflower paradise. A trail that would overwhelm my senses with its grandeur. I talked to Wendy, who was limping through camp in her flip-flops, and I felt terribly for her. There are no words. Best Multi-Day Hikes in USA National Parks. I found it all. The first time I did the climb out of Indian Bar, it kicked my butt. The trail is relatively smooth, its not too steep, its all downhill, and its the homestretch. The highest point in the trail is at 6,750 feet (Panhandle Gap), which doesnt melt out until late June or early July, so hikers attempting the route before midsummer will need to be prepared for snow travel. Dogs: No. It is arranged chronologically. ~Cam Swami Honan The most traveled hiker on earth (Backpacker Magazine, January 2015). Cabin tucked into the woods beside the meadow. The Wonderland Trail is 93 miles (150 km) long and encircles Mount Rainier. At one point, it crosses a creek and then ascend an evil set of stairs. The wildflower meadows here are extremely fragile, especially given how many visitors come to the park. Those things always happen so quickly, and luckily she slid into a tree which stopped her downhill progress. Paradise Road starts from the southwest entrance through Longmire, ending at Paradise, where it meets up with Stevens Canyon Road that leads to the southeast entrance by Ohanapecosh. Where to Apply for a Wonderland Trail Walk Up Permit not too high)/ Current version is a few ounces heavier (not including Sitlight pad). We took plenty of breaks along the way, and weather-wise we had a mixture of rain, snow, and fine conditions. Trail Stats. 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. Your email address will not be published. The Wonderland Gambit is a trilogy by Jack Chalker. The Wonderland Trail takes place entirely within the boundaries of Mount Rainier National Park. When Hikers Die, Why Are We So Quick to Judge. There was even a resident marmot who ignored us as he stood on his haunches, pulled on a flower stem, and then devoured the flower. However, it would be a wait before they could complete the work. I then ran to the bathroom to take care of the other side of things. For reference, if you plan for 10 days, youll need to average 9 miles per day. . Eager to make progress on this shorter day (I really really wanted to get into camp early and take a nap! Its a jaw-dropping airy crossing above the glacial melt river and the swinging bridge is not for the faint of heart. Ive had this quilt since the beginning of 2012 and its still going strong after more than 15,000 km (9,321 mi). The application opens on March 15 every year. I got my answers in the middle of the trip, when I hit my low point and puked in the bushes outside the Sunrise Visitor Center parking lot. As it ended up, both forks of the river are safely bridged now and it was an easy crossing. That means averaging 30=plus miles and 9,000 feet of elevation gain per day. Be careful crossing the river. to help you prepare. Do you know where the closest place to purchase MSR Isobutane Fuel canisters since I cannot pack them on the plane? - Listen to Q&A #1: Pros & Cons of Sharing Hike on Social Media, How to Intergrate into the Hiking World, Timberline Trail vs. Tahoe Rim Trail by Backpacker Radio instantly on your tablet, phone or browser - no downloads needed. Master the Art of the Car Shuttle. Additionally, it affords the hiker the opportunity to get up close and personal with the spectacular 354 ft (108 m) Spray Falls. 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 The Wonderland Trail makes its way through all the major geological zones from lowland forests to sub-alpine meadows with its cumulative gain of roughly 23,000 feet. Use the, If you plan for a trip longer than about a week, it may be beneficial to store your food midway at a. or have a friend meet up with you to help restock your supplies. It was delicious!) When we arrived, Rachel was soaking her feet in the creek and she shared that two humongous blisters were troubling her. Over the 2 miles from Mystic to the Winthrop, we powered on hoping we would arrive before the days warmth increased the rivers levels too much. This time when we invited her to join us, she jumped at the offer, and we were once again a group of seven. Instead of the typical pattern of walking up and over a ridge, this time, you get to spend a few miles with Rainier as the main backdrop. Mount Rainier National Park (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map), Green Trails Mount Rainier Wonderland Map. Mountain views. ), take a break at the aqua-blue St Andrews Lake at mile 18, then head on to Klapatche, one of the most beautiful campsites around Rainier, which boasts another green-blue lake with that subalpine view of Rainier. 3. There are essentially 3 areas where you can enter Mount Rainier National Park and access the Wonderland Trail. It's one of the most iconic trails in the region, and with very good reason. There is a trail that encircles the mountain. Rainier. 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. 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. The remaining 1/3 of permits are issued on-site on a first-come, first-served basis. The final descent along the Paradise River is a treat. Super-versatile Insulation layer for cold/wet weather and base layer for deep winter conditions. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Ex.Con. The early-access reservation lottery is your best bet for a multiday trip, but a third of wilderness permits remain first-come, first-serve for walk-ins at a wilderness information center. Daily elevation gains and losses of over 3,500 feet are common. Wed descend to the bottom of Stevens Canyon and then ascend to Reflection Lakes near Paradise. We're hiking along the crest of the Cowlitz Divide on the southeast side of Mount Rainier National Park, just a few hours into a five-day, 77-mile backpacking trip covering most of the 93-mile Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier, and we've already had our first wildlife sightinga harbinger of what awaits us. You decide. A Brief History of the Wonderland Trail Not that the adventure started out as film fodder. The ranger advised to wait an hour, and we could see where things stood with the bridge improvements. Longmire; 2. Soon, youll climb out of the river bed and pop out to Mystic Lake, which hosts another campsite and ranger station. Cheers. I spent a lot of that time reflecting on the journey, on what I had learned about myself and about my friends, on what I could do to be a better group member and person, on the giving and supportive friends and spouses who contributed to our trip, to our friends who did not start or could not finish, to my children who waited at home for me. mauderunner, Musings About 2020: Pandemic, Turmoil, and Running. The best time to hike the Wonderland Trail is mid-July through September. None of us wanted to leave, but all of us wanted to get to Mowich at some point that evening, so we resigned ourselves to putting back on our shoes and packs and heading out. Top Tip: Use the Wonderland Trail Planning Website at home AND in the ranger station. Safarika Adventure Club (Safarika Travel Inc.) was founded in Los Angeles (CA) in the year 2013. The Wonderland Trail quickly became popular with hikers. I desire medium danger williswall.com hikethewonderlandtrail.com. A trail that could be cruel and giving. Liz Thomas hiking through Spray Park | Late September 2014. At St. Andrews Lake, we encountered a family of four (the kids were 6 and 8). Zillow has 2197 homes for sale. Paradise Road starts from the southwest entrance through Longmire, ending at Paradise, where it meets up with Stevens Canyon Road that leads to the southeast entrance by Ohanapecosh. In fact, I dont think any of us have peed during a day on the trails as much as we had that day. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. Hi Scott, I highly recommend eating at, , located just down the road from Longmire Wilderness Information Center (. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. 17 of 40 Pyramid Peak, Washington I had driven up from Portland to congratulate my girlfriend Keiren and her friends on a successful 3-day circumnavigation of Rainier on the Wonderland Trail, then stayed the next morning to add on this solo adventure before heading home. It can be completed in 7-10 days. The best times to visit this trail are July through September. Sign up for Outside+ today. Just wanted to thank you for a great guide, once again. Tami Asars, author of Hiking the Wonderland Trail and a Washington Trails magazine correspondent has these tips to add when trying for a Wonderland itinerary: Multiple itineraries. Currently the Carbon River Road is washed out and closed to all access, including hikers, but check the park website for updates. In other words, I wasnt thinking well. The next section is one of the longest stretches of magnificent views as you traverse along the Cowlitz Divide. This is a good baseline for how far apart you want your campsites to be. Still my favourite Merino liners after more than a decade / Cheaper and more durable than the big sock companies (Note: Though not as durable as the pre-2013 models). The Wonderland Trail circles Mount Rainier, the highest peak in Washington (14,411 ft / 4,392 m) and the most glaciated mountain in the contiguous United States. (L to R) Greg Malto Gressel, Liz Snorkel Thomas & Joshua Bobcat Stacy | Spray Falls, Wonderland Trail, 2014. Running Around Mt. You are constantly either going up or going down. Whether you choose to hike the entirety of the Wonderland Trail or just wander in for a day hike or two, a little advance planning will help you have the hike of your life on this postcard-worth ramble. Situated between the Carbon Glacier and Winthrop Glacier, Mystic Lake is a little fertile oasis nestled amongst trees. 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