Reservations must be made at least 2 days in advance of the trip start. Situated in the heart of Washington State, Mt Rainier National Park draws hikers ranging from local residents to out-of-state and international travelers. Double thumbs up. There was a work crew on the other side of the river, and they were there to install a railing to make the crossing safer. Rainier National Park, eat at the National Park Inn at Longmire, sleep at Cougar Rock Campground. Hand Sanitizer (repackaged in a dropper bottle). Another downside: trail maintenance on the west side of the mountain was lacking. 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. Day 7: 10 miles back to White River trailhead. Successful applicants will have an early reservation opportunity between late February and early March.. If you choose to explore the Wonderland Trail on a multi-day trip, youll need a wilderness permit to use any of the 18 campsites right next to the trail. Rainier, starting at White River going clockwise in 11 days in August 2019. Outside of that, it is possible to piece together the remaining campsites, although you may have days of uneven hiking lengthsa 2-mile day and then a 15-mile day, for exampleif you cannot get your ideal campsites. Appalachian Trail - Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Top. 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.. About halfway through the climb, we bumped into another woman, Rachel, who was also doing the Wonderland in three days, but she was solo on her trek. Founder & CEO - Karina Safari, professional adventure travel organizer and team leader since 2011. 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. Liz Thomas hiking through Spray Park | Late September 2014. I asked if anyone would mind stopping at the creek so I could soak my feet in the cold water, and everyone was onboard with that idea! When we arrived, Rachel was soaking her feet in the creek and she shared that two humongous blisters were troubling her. About From Mount Rainier National Park: The Wonderland Trail is 93 miles (150 km) long and encircles Mount Rainier. ** Check out the photos from last years race!!!! Our first views of the Mountain came as we crossed the Kautz Creek at about 3.5 miles. Cheers, If you plan for a trip longer than about a week, it may be beneficial to store your food midway at a food cache or have a friend meet up with you to help restock your supplies. My feet were hot and sore and felt blistered. I responded with a miserable, I dont care. Just as we arrived at the parking lot of Sunrise Visitor Center, my stomach called BS and I puked up the little that was left in my stomach into the bushes. A trail that would challenge me mentally and physically. Your email address will not be published. Mountain views. Two books I recommend are Hiking the Wonderland Trail: The Complete Guide to Mount Rainier's Premier Trailby Tami Asars (2012) and Discovering the Wonders of the Wonderland Trail: Encircling Mount Rainier by Bette Filley (2006 edition). Mowich Lake. One of the park's most popular day hikes is the 11.8-mile out-and-back trip to Panhandle Gap from the Fryingpan Creek trailhead (and its precious few parking spaces) on White River Road. Be careful crossing the river. Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which means we may receive a small percentage of any purchase you make. That is about 9-13 miles a day. I grew hotter and I started not to feel well. The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile loop around the base of Mt. In recent years, Ive covered the section along the Carbon River to the Carbon Glacier, the section between Frying Pan Creek Trailhead and Box Canyon five times, and the section from Sunrise to Mystic Lake. Required fields are marked *. Adjust accordingly to mitigate surprises. 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. Trail Stats. Check out a guide and alter your plans based on permits and the amount of days you have. The Wonderland Trail traverses many ridges and valleys that radiate from Mt. If you need any trail beta, feel free to reach out. Good places to do this are at Mowich and Sunrise. Since then, I always know what Im in for, and I warned everyone else in advance. Mowich River Camp-31.64 miles/8,198..Day 3: So. 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. The area was named after Sotolik, known as Indian Henry, to those who sought him out as a guide. As the sunlight waned, we worked our way up our final 2,000 foot climb over 3ish miles. . Wonderland Trail in 3 Days (#34): Sep 7-9/2022 September 12, 2022 My annual Wonderland trek is more than just a hike; it's a life event where I immerse myself in the surroundings and go through all the ups and downs (literally), the highs and the lows, the elation and downright pure suffering that comes with such long days. And some people give of themselves to be your crew, to help make it happen for you. Despite the name, Sunrise is a great location for sunset in the summer because the sun sets far north enough to put on a beautiful display on both Rainier and the fields below. Correspondence (12 lin. Day 5: 16.2 miles to Maple Creek campsite. Extra Socks Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew. When to Go. The wildflower meadows here are extremely fragile, especially given how many visitors come to the park. At Panhandle Gapthe highest point on the Wonderland at 6800 feetwe toasted with a few sips of whisky. I definitely recommend this trail to anyone! Difficulty: Strenuous. Tuesday, February 28 . Day 3: White River to Longmire, 32 Miles, Elevation +6,800'/ -5,900' If waking up on day 3 of a Wonderland the thought of with 31 miles still ahead doesn't make you question your capacity/sanity, you are superhuman. Beautiful views. Your email address will not be published. Mike found a bridge on the North Mowich, but the South Mowich had to be forded. White Rabbit Chronicles (2012 - 2019) is a series by Gena Showalter. Sunrise has many side trails and camps to choose from that are slightly off from the main Wonderland Trail. 2.99 + 2.69 Postage. At St. Andrews Lake, we encountered a family of four (the kids were 6 and 8). Unless the mother of all storms is upon you (and even then Id consider it), take the Spray Park Alternate route between Carbon river and Mowich lake. The longer days meant I spent most of my trail time sans headlamp, putting in 14-15 hour days. mauderunner, Musings About 2020: Pandemic, Turmoil, and Running. Sometimes a log bridge will take you across and other times, you may need to pick your way through the silty rocks. 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. Last year in my video of hike #32 I made the statement maybe these 3 day hikes will become untenable. With our tents and sleeping bags waiting for us, we changed out some gear in our packs and fell into bed. Crossing the bridge was a thrill, and we all acted like children squealing and laughing as we bounced our way across one at a time. I shared my own situation, and I think we both were in the same state of mind. Highest Elevation: 6,750 ft (2,060 m) Panhandle Gap, Lowest Elevation: 2,320 ft (720 m) Ipsut Creek Campground. Tasmania, Scotland, New Zealand) / Not too thick/not too thin, warmer than synthetic equivalents when damp. At camp Wendy and I conferred. day-by-day itinerary for your hike. Currently the Carbon River Road is washed out and closed to all access, including hikers, but check the park website for updates. Day 4: 13.7 miles to Devil's Dream campsite. This comes at no additional cost to the reader and helps to support the website in its continuing goal to create quality content for backpackers and hikers. 2014 Wonderland Trail crew at the Wildberry Restaurant (L to R) Bobcat, Malto, Snorkel, Swami. Rainier. We first headed up to Emerald Ridge, which was breathtaking! 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. It was insanely gorgeous! The South Mowich River crossing was still lacking a bridge, requiring a ford (assisted by a steel cable strung across). Just wanted to thank you for a great guide, once again. Otter Symmetry case for iPhone 11 (orange), Trekking Pole Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber. Felpudo, RichP, zimmertr. 7-Day Free Trial Gaia GPS Premium Out and Back Podcast Gaia GPS Everything You Need to Know About Satellite Communicators December 1, 2022 Adventures The Gear It Takes to Run a 126-Mile Race Through the Himalayas, With Public Lands More Crowded Than Ever, We Need to Make Peace With Permits, Explore an Ocean Forest in Floridas Ten Thousand Islands, Atmospheric Rivers Pound California, Closing Multiple Parks and Recreation Sites, Missing Appalachian Trail Hikers Body Found in Shenandoah, Park Officials Say. The majority of hikers. When Hikers Die, Why Are We So Quick to Judge. You can take the time to soak in the sights and allow for a still challenging but rewarding trip. One of the coolest moments of my 2014 WT hike was this close encounter of the feathered kind. I was excited about day two: I knew most of the trail, loved the views, and knew that it would be a shorter, easier day that ended in burgers at Sunrise Visitor Center. I finally caught them after a couple of miles and enjoyed their spontaneous rap songs (with Skat Master Sarah as DJ) and silliness. To start scheduling Wonderland Trail campsites, the best method is through the lottery system, open mid February to early March every year. I went to bed resigned to failure. The lake is a welcome sight with Old Desolate, a lonely mountain towering 1,000 feet above the lake, making for a slight change in background. Rainier's Wonderland Trail. Once across, we had a long hot climb up to St. Andrews Lake. . Arizona Trail Journal Day 2. We had reserved a site at Cougar Rock Campground for the night before, and we were all settled by about 9:30 or 10. to help you prepare. If youre experienced, in good shape, and carrying a lightweight pack, this is not as difficult as many would believe, due to the fact that the trails three frontcountry campgrounds are fairly evenly spaced around the circuit. Thu Sep 29, 2022 10:44 am. Wonderland Trail in 3 Days (#34): Sep 7-9/2022 from Willis Wall on Vimeo. Thanks for the great guide as usual Swami! Once you reach Spray creek you will see the falls up to your left. The Wonderland Gambit is a trilogy by Jack Chalker. I encountered a fair number of blowdowns, some requiring crotch -stretching-bark burning gyrations to get around or under behemoth trees. First Previous Next Last. Our dates ended up being at the tail end of a week-plus of high temps for the region, and our first two days were pretty toasty. Cheery thoughts. Elly, Angel, and Tim quickly caught up with us, and it made for cheery conversation to catch up with them. Wonderland Trail in 3 Days: Jul 20-22/2021 (#33) July 25, 2021 Once again I am thankful to be healthy enough to pull off another 3 day transit of Mt. At one point, it crosses a creek and then ascend an evil set of stairs. Id been hearing great things about it for the previous year or two, and decided to give it a try. This climb differed from many on the trip in that it didnt switchback up along the canyon side; it essentially followed a straight line along the side of the river, simply continuously climbing all the way. I simply know that I am blessed. 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. Running Around Mt. But it was always there, in the back of my mind. Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+ Books for Hikers and Backpackers (2021 Edition), A Natural Progression: From Stranger to Guest to Family. (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 . With the rivers running higher as the day progressed, this posed a problem for people crossing the river later in the day. It was a good reminder that things can and do happen on the trails! Allow 10 to 14 days to hike the entire trail, depending on your daily average. Our friends are the best! And a lot of mosquitoes. The water was so forceful that we could hear boulders rolling underwater. For a 2-week hike, you can cut the mileage down to about 7 miles per day. system, open mid February to early March every year. 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). Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. Clearly salt was still high on the body-needs-this list. ), or head to the Mount Fremont Lookout. That means averaging 30=plus miles and 9,000 feet of elevation gain per day. 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