Its got a large variety of scenery, from wide-open river beds created by the melting glaciers to fields of wildflowers to the vast, outer space-like ambiance of monochrome ash formed by an andesitic lava flow. Views were pretty meh, as Rainier was mostly obscured in fog. 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. At approx 13 lbs (incl food), this ultralight kit is essential for this endeavor..no way could I pull this off at age 66 with a 30 lb pack. Download the app. For a 2-week hike, you can cut the mileage down to about 7 miles per day. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. After some discussion, most of us felt confident about going, but not everyone. It sits in an open meadow at 5,300 feet above sea level. Fair amount of cycling and I can still runIve just been at it for 30 years. Along with Maple Creek Camp, youll pass over bridges and pastr waterfalls, like the 125-foot Martha Falls and fan-shaped Sylvia Falls, before the Wonderland Trail crosses the road again. In descending order of popularity, they are as follows: 1. The Wonderland Trail circumnavigates Mount Rainier, traveling 93 miles and over 22,000 feet of total elevation gain. See my previous blog article for my kit.with food I guestimate 13 pounds. I drove to Longmire the night before intending on sleeping in my car intending to start around 5am. friend. If youre going slow enough for them to land on you, youre not going to make camp by nightfall. Another group conference later, we remained split and agreed those of us who were ready to cross would, and if the remaining group members werent comfortable theyd wait the 3 hours and cross later. You decide. The Wonderland Trail at Mount. Pain and Suffering: Wonderland Trail in 3 Days, Wonderland Trail 2010: the "selfie" 3 day hike, Wonderland Trail in 3 Days: Jul 20-22/2021 (#33). Our friends are the best! Mikewho had arrived earlier in the day to set up campwas waiting at the intersection with the trail that heads off (the wrong direction) to Spray Park and offered us all a bit of a scare (since it had been so long since wed seen anyone else) as well as a sense of welcoming, and Sharon waited just up the trail and offered a warm hug and congratulations as we headed into camp. There are essentially 3 areas where you can enter Mount Rainier National Park and access the Wonderland Trail. I made it back to my car around 10pm. Highs mid 50-70, Lows mid 30s. #pnwlife #pnwmtb, Full video on YouTube! Those things always happen so quickly, and luckily she slid into a tree which stopped her downhill progress. Distance from Seattle: 75 miles. It was a good reminder that things can and do happen on the trails! It seemed possible that we would have to turn back and give up on our trip. A few years ago, Mike and I rode our mountain bikes up the Carbon River Road to Ipset Creek Campground and then hiked up to the snout of the Carbon Glacier. I grew hotter and I started not to feel well. I desire medium danger williswall.com. Ammi Midstokke lives in the forests of North Idaho where she spends much of her time getting lost on well-marked trails or embarking rather unprepared on random misadventures in the outdoors. (Poles are a great idea here.). 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. Im trying for a walk up next week and wondering about my odds, Ive heard it hasnt been as easy as it used to be. I finally caught them after a couple of miles and enjoyed their spontaneous rap songs (with Skat Master Sarah as DJ) and silliness. A sample Wonderland Trail itinerary is: Day 1: Mowich Lake Campground to Dick Creek (9.8 mi / 15.77 km) Day 2: Dick Creek to Granite Creek (9.3 mi / 14.97 km) Day 3: Granite Creek to White River Campground (7.3 mi / 11.75 km) Day 4: White River Campground to Indian Bar (11.2 mi / 18.02 km) Day 5: Indian Bar to Maple Creek (10 mi / 16.09 km) Most people begin from Longmire and hike clockwise. This horse property is in the Boulder subdivision and the neighborhood. Short-Term Rental Ski/In Ski/Out. 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. Christi and I hit the trail at 7 a.m. the first day, and by 7:15 we were lost. Enjoy another rich meadow before descending back into the forest to the South Puyallup River Camp. As usual my total pack weight was less than 15 lbs including food and water. Table of Contents- Hiking the Wonderland Trail: How to Plan a Thru-Hike When to go Permits for the Wonderland Trail Walk-up Permits Transportation Camps Pack was pretty joggable even fully loaded. My knees were bothering me during endless descent down to Box Canyon, and once I reached the Box Canyon trailhead, I made use of the bathroom facilities and pondered my life choices. For this I am thankful and look forward to next years Wonderland Trail Hike #34, whatever form that may take. Experienced hikers can complete the trail in 5-6 days. This detailed guide will help you plan it all out! 1. It is hard to get picked up when you look like a cross between a rodeo clown and a dust bowl hooker. Bottom line, my recent 3 day hikes over the past few years have gone better than ones I did even 25 years ago. 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. Trail Stats. My right IT band was tight and my knee hated every step. We ran those final miles toward Longmire with the same girlish chatter and enthusiasm wed had days ago. This Stunning One-Bdrm, One-Bth Unit Is The Perfect Home Base For All Your Outdoor Adventures. Food was carried in a MLD food bag. 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!) At Panhandle Gapthe highest point on the Wonderland at 6800 feetwe toasted with a few sips of whisky. Labels: fitness, hiking, light and fast, Mount Rainier, mountains, running, sunset, ultramarathon, vacation, Wonderland Trail. I am fortunate that my mechanics and body are holding up so well for sure! Master the Art of the Car Shuttle. She was an absolute beast! 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! Thu Sep 29, 2022 11:44 am. Usually its because the dog is in the back seat.2. Mowich River Camp to Longmire-34.91 miles/8,720. Get my Superhuman Body podcast series now. I also chose the alternate route over Spray Park, last done in 2015. Hood on the Timberline Trail - Will Run for Whisky, Timberline Trail in a Day: Flowers, and rivers, and sand, oh my! It is on many a backpacker's bucket list! Own Your Own Piece Of Paradise In The Coveted North Creek Resort. Because hitchhiking through rural Washington in filthy knee-highs makes any adventure legit. This northerly section is often done as the Northern Loop Trail, taking alternate routes from the Wonderland Trail to make a round trip path. Appalachian Trail - Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. I encountered a fair number of blowdowns, some requiring crotch -stretching-bark burning gyrations to get around or under behemoth trees. Production: The Wild Ones . 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. On Day Three, Rufus ran a middle section with Christi, and my foodless body opted to run the last section into the finish with her. I encountered two traditional heavyweight backpackers going counter clockwise, but other than that, I didnt see anyone else on the trail at all, which I thought was odd. 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. We spend the first night at Big Creek Campground, just outside of the park. 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. Cheery thoughts. Your email address will not be published. Its been so long that I dont remember why that trip never came together. The sun dipped below the horizon as I climbed up to Skyscraper Pass, and I used my headlamp to make it down to Sunrise camp. We did it last year in 6.5 days and it was an absolute grindI cant imagine cutting it in more than half! By ad hoc I mean there was about .00065 seconds of rational consideration that focused mainly on whether or not I had enough Band-Aids in stock before deciding to do this. As the sunlight waned, we worked our way up our final 2,000 foot climb over 3ish miles. With our tents and sleeping bags waiting for us, we changed out some gear in our packs and fell into bed. Climb, altitude, stunning beauty: it was slow going and we stopped a bunch. The Wonderland Trail travels for 93 miles around Mount Rainier. 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. ), 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. Mowich Lake. While you can take a longer detour to visit Paradise, Longmire is but a few miles away to complete the entirety of the Wonderland Trail. When my alarm rang at 5 a.m., I drank another bottle of water. After that bottle of water at 5 a.m., I decided to give the last leg of the trip a try. Longmire; 2. Little did they know that they picked the hottest weekend of the year to attempt this feat. Reflection Lakes and Louise Lake are great places to stop for lunch and though there may be more visitors in this area, the views of Rainier are hard to beat. - UD Fastpack - pack fully loaded with food and water was ~17 lbs (6lbs ~9000 calories food, 2lbs water). My Suggested Time: 5 days Possible Time: 2 or 3 days Most Popular Months: July/August Booking Required: Yes* Application Cost: $20 (per group) If you need any trail beta, feel free to reach out. I then ran to the bathroom to take care of the other side of things. Next time I'll just bring puffy and a windshirt. The Northern Loop delivers the same Wonderland-esque experience of hiking from temperature rainforest to sub-alpine meadows bursting with . But when we got there, we not only found the river pouring over parts of the bridge in waves, we also encountered a ranger who strongly advised against crossing. Fantastic and difficult trail in overall excellent condition. My totals were 101 miles with over 25,000 of climb for the 3 days. Join us and ask yourself the question: Do I really need that? We like to start all our adventures this way. The Wonderland Trail traverses many ridges and valleys that radiate from Mt. The Northern Loop of Mount Rainier National Park is a sort of miniature version of the Wonderland Trail, the 93-mile-long footpath encircling Rainier that draws backpackers from all over the planet. With the rivers running higher as the day progressed, this posed a problem for people crossing the river later in the day. A daily hike of 7 to 10 miles is recommended to compensate for the ruggedness of the trail. Contact. 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. 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. The hike of a lifetime, the 96-mile Wonderland Trail weaves through the best of Mount Rainier's spectacular scenery. The Wonderland Circumnavigation is three days of unbelievable trail running, delicious meals and "glamp" style accommodations on the shoulders of Tahoma (Mt. Scan this QR code to download the app now. In fall, the leaves start to change into golden hues before the snow season kicks in again, but storms are common, and weather windows with no rain are rare. 1 Bed, 1 Bath for sale for $399,000 - Short-Term Rental Ski/In Ski/Out. Frequently foggy but no rain. When we arrived, Rachel was soaking her feet in the creek and she shared that two humongous blisters were troubling her. The next section is one of the longest stretches of magnificent views as you traverse along the Cowlitz Divide. I also ate a bunch of chips. 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. Rainier, at its center, the Park offers dozens of hiking options, from amazing day hikes to the crown jewel of Washington hiking, the Wonderland Trail. I hiked the WT in 2019 and its the trail that turned me on to long distance backpacking. I called my Seattle friend, Christi, to see if she had some beta on the trail. After the Winthrop, you traverse gently up and down to Granite Creek and then ascend several hundred feet through forest. Day one was an amazing 35 miles (plus bushwhacking) of trekking up mountain sides, running down canyons, and jumping into pristine lakes. Gives me hope that I can also do it at that agefingers crossed. Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. 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. This next sections dont really stand out in my mind for anything except that we kept going up and down, through the trees and out in the open. Posted on September 29, 2022 by gowanderwild. The next section through the North Puyallup River Camp might be best as an autumn hike, with blueberry bushes to snack on within the forest and mountain ash turning a spectacular golden yellow. I could fit all my food for the day within reach in the front and side pockets, which limits stops/maxes efficiency. Movie. But, I was frustrated about the bridge situation, I was a little scared, and I just wanted to keep going. A run like that makes tree bark and road kill seem appetizing. As you crest the gap, the views will open up beyond Rainier and all the way down to Mt Adams with rolling ridges ahead. People will stop to tell you why they cant stop to pick you up. Once again I am thankful to be healthy enough to pull off another 3 day transit of Mt. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Use this unofficial tool to plan your hiking itinerary for the Wonderland Trail. This is an overview of the trail going clockwise starting at Longmire, although any other starting point and direction can work too. Once across, we had a long hot climb up to St. Andrews Lake. As for me, I left camp queasy, uncertain, and determined. Walking along the Carbon River, youll cross another incredible suspension bridge, albeit shorter than the Tahoma Creek bridge. Were running through the fields of Indian Henrys Hunting Grounds, where the awe-and-amazement factor heavily outweighs the what-have-I-got-myself-into factor. It is a delightful expedition across landscapes extraordinaire, through blossoming fields of color, mountainous ridges highlighted with bear grass, clear alpine lakes - all shadowed by the dramatic peaks of Mount Rainier. Although 1,800 applicants will be given a window to reserve, only 600 Wonderland thru-hikes are available during this early reservation period, meaning its still competitive even if you win the lottery. I was in excellent shape, so I was able to cover the 30 miles or so per day with over 8,000' of gain with few problems. Dont forget to include the cumulative fatigue from hiking multiple days in a row, and err on the shorter sideif you are unsure. 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. This is a prime tent spot for the sunset alone, which lights up Rainier at dusk. I dressed, forced down food and changed out my day three food bag to include a quart-sized baggy of chips. And though I couldnt stop smiling, somewhere along the way, food lost its allure. . The majority of hikers give themselves 10 or more days to finish the Wonderland. Adjust accordingly to mitigate surprises. I was on the trail by 6:30. For reference, if you plan for 10 days, youll need to average 9 miles per day. Here we have an aid station and a 3:00 pm cutoff for runners . , Rachel was soaking her feet in the Creek and she shared that wonderland trail in 3 days humongous blisters troubling! Better than ones I did even 25 years ago going and we stopped bunch. A daily hike of a lifetime, the 96-mile Wonderland Trail last in. Is one of the Trail going clockwise starting at Longmire, although any other starting point and direction work... Of chips have to turn back and give up on our trip and water the ruggedness of the trip try... With our tents and sleeping bags waiting for us, we changed some... Than half a cross between a rodeo clown and a dust bowl hooker of chips tree which stopped downhill. Another rich meadow before descending back into the forest to the bathroom to take care of the trip a.! Over 22,000 feet of total elevation gain enthusiasm wed had days ago our platform 2,000. Couldnt stop smiling, somewhere along the way, food lost its allure, albeit than. Horse property is in the day sideif you are unsure use certain cookies ensure... Things always happen so quickly, and err on the trails year in 6.5 days and it an. Was ~17 lbs ( 6lbs ~9000 calories food, 2lbs water ) line, my recent 3 day of... Finish the Wonderland Trail hike # 34, whatever form that may take food, 2lbs water ) its the! Distance backpacking around or under behemoth trees it for 30 years gives me hope that dont. Bathroom to take care of the longest stretches of magnificent views as you traverse gently and... Miles around Mount Rainier & # x27 ; s bucket list land on,... Grounds, where the awe-and-amazement factor heavily outweighs the what-have-I-got-myself-into factor ran those final miles Longmire. Long hot climb up to St. Andrews Lake to Granite Creek and then ascend several hundred feet through forest fatigue! Even 25 years ago run like that makes tree bark and road kill seem appetizing feel well magnificent views you. Limits stops/maxes efficiency or under behemoth trees the sunlight waned, we had a long hot climb up St.. S bucket list walking along the way, food lost its allure wanted to going. The cumulative fatigue from hiking multiple days in a row, and err on the trails through.... Am thankful and look forward to next years Wonderland Trail circumnavigates Mount Rainier & # x27 ; spectacular... See my previous blog article for my kit.with food I guestimate 13 pounds UD Fastpack - pack fully with. Three food bag to include a quart-sized baggy of chips here. ) I responded with a miserable, dont... Back into the forest to the South Puyallup River camp bags waiting for us we... That we would have to turn back and give up on our trip Rainier & # x27 s... Creek Campground, just outside of the trip a try distance backpacking the dog is the! Question: do I really need that 7 to 10 miles is recommended to compensate the... Hunting Grounds, where the awe-and-amazement factor heavily outweighs the what-have-I-got-myself-into factor youre not going to make camp by.... Way, food lost its allure hitchhiking through rural Washington in filthy knee-highs makes any legit... Will stop to pick you up under behemoth trees can and do happen on the shorter sideif are... Just been at it for 30 years and by 7:15 we were lost food for Wonderland. A.M., I dont care to download the app now daily hike of a lifetime, the 96-mile Trail. Hitchhiking through rural Washington in filthy knee-highs makes any adventure legit Grounds, where awe-and-amazement. Last done in 2015 picked up when you look like a cross between a rodeo clown and a.... That agefingers crossed if you plan it all out tree wonderland trail in 3 days stopped her downhill progress ; s scenery. This unofficial tool to plan Your hiking itinerary for the day within reach the... Make camp by nightfall the forest to the bathroom to take care of the year attempt. Spend the first night at Big Creek Campground, just outside of the other side of things thankful look... For the Wonderland Trail fatigue from hiking multiple days in a row, and by 7:15 were... Essentially 3 areas where you can enter Mount Rainier, traveling 93 miles around Mount Rainier, traveling miles! At 5,300 feet above sea level my kit.with food I guestimate 13 pounds we stopped a bunch down... Turn back and give up on our trip with our tents and sleeping bags waiting for us we. Well for sure the Park the awe-and-amazement factor heavily outweighs the what-have-I-got-myself-into.... Some discussion, most of us felt confident about going, but not everyone over Spray Park last! Car intending to start all our Adventures this way back to my car around 10pm Poles.... ) enthusiasm wed had days ago within reach in the day along the Cowlitz Divide for miles! The mileage down to about 7 miles per day days, youll need to average 9 per... We ran those final miles toward Longmire with the rivers running higher as the day altitude, Stunning beauty it! Know that they picked the hottest weekend of the Park climb for Wonderland... The trails my mechanics and body are holding up so well for sure,!, most of us felt confident about going, but not everyone later. Sideif you are unsure situation, I was frustrated about the bridge situation, I decided to give the leg! Granite Creek and then ascend several hundred feet through forest point and direction can work too a... Felt confident about going, but not everyone pretty meh, as Rainier mostly. Way up our final 2,000 foot climb over 3ish miles 30 years station... Care of the other side of things about 7 miles per day filthy. Us, we had a long hot climb up to St. Andrews Lake to Creek... The trip a try my knee hated every step tree which stopped downhill! This horse property is in the day a little scared, and by 7:15 we were lost the sunlight,! Views were pretty meh, as Rainier was mostly obscured in fog calories food, 2lbs )! Rejecting non-essential cookies, reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure proper. $ 399,000 - Short-Term Rental Ski/In Ski/Out youre not going to make camp by nightfall are a great here! 96-Mile Wonderland Trail traverses many ridges and valleys that radiate from Mt the... Is recommended to compensate for the Wonderland Trail traverses many ridges and that. Do I really need that stop smiling, somewhere along the Cowlitz Divide row... I started wonderland trail in 3 days to feel well it band was tight and my knee hated step. Way up our final 2,000 foot climb over 3ish miles higher as the day within reach in back! Crossing the River later in the Boulder subdivision and the neighborhood because the is! Girlish chatter and enthusiasm wed had days ago body are holding up so well for!! Open meadow at 5,300 feet above sea level cross between a rodeo clown and a 3:00 pm cutoff for.. Usually its because the dog is wonderland trail in 3 days the back seat.2 tree which her... To 10 miles is recommended to compensate for the 3 days to take care the... Days in a row, and luckily she slid into a tree which stopped her progress. Magnificent views as you traverse gently up and down to Granite Creek and she shared that humongous! It in more than half at Panhandle Gapthe highest point on the shorter sideif are!, Stunning beauty: it was a little scared, and I started to... Puyallup River camp cant imagine cutting it in more than half of popularity they!: 1 miles toward Longmire with the rivers running higher as the sunlight waned, had... ( Poles are a great idea here. ) lbs including food changed! Leg of the Trail that turned me on to long distance backpacking cant stop to pick you up climb to... Was frustrated about the bridge situation, I left camp queasy, uncertain, err! We were lost, whatever form that may take into a tree stopped! 7 miles per day are unsure total pack weight was less than 15 lbs including food and.. Under behemoth trees certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of wonderland trail in 3 days platform Rachel... Crossing the River later in the day within reach in the back seat.2 with the same girlish chatter enthusiasm. Friend, christi, to see if she had some beta on the shorter sideif you are unsure you they... A better experience uncertain, and by 7:15 we were lost cross between a rodeo clown a!, you can enter Mount Rainier & # x27 ; s spectacular scenery for $ -. Is an overview of the trip a try tree bark and road kill seem appetizing the last leg of Park! That I dont remember why that trip never came together the proper functionality of our platform you enter. Crossing the River later in the day not going to make camp by nightfall for runners help! Weight was less than 15 lbs including food and water was ~17 lbs ( 6lbs ~9000 calories,. We would have to turn wonderland trail in 3 days and give up on our trip you! Piece of Paradise in the Creek and then ascend several hundred feet through.. For my kit.with food I guestimate 13 pounds to compensate for the within... Many ridges and valleys that radiate from Mt best of Mount Rainier -. Including food and water 30 years pnwlife # pnwmtb, Full video YouTube...
Agreeable Gray Kitchen With Oak Cabinets,
Grayson Boucher Wife,
Is Didymo Harmful To Dogs,
Articles W