My trip would never have happened if it were just me out there, alone and without purpose. The average thru-run of the Wonderland Trail takes about 3 days, and averages around 31 miles a day. 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. Tuesday, February 28 . There was lots of discussion about the pros and cons of starting points and directions, but ultimately we chose to start and end at Longmire and to go clockwise. Region: Pacific West (Mount Rainier National Park, Washington) Length: 93 miles (7-10 days) Wonderland Trail GPX File Download Physical Difficulty: Moderate To access the cascade, head down a short, signposted side trail. Its amazing! The best time to hike the Wonderland Trail is mid-July through September. Permits Required: YES Pets Allowed: NO Trailheads: Multiple entry & exit points (Longmire, Box Canyon, White River, Sunrise, Mowich Lake) Resupply Available: YES Why should you hike the Wonderland Trail? Bring something that youll enjoy at camp, whether its a book or game or hot chocolate. My family, my husband, and my friends give me purpose and direction, and I love them. Tired of Not Looking or Feeling the Way You Want?. This is a popular trail for backpacking, camping, and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Mike found a bridge on the North Mowich, but the South Mowich had to be forded. Last year in my video of hike #32 I made the statement maybe these 3 day hikes will become untenable. Olympic Coast Route: The hardest thing I didnt finish, Affords hikers and runners views of all sides of Mt. Longmire; 2. We took plenty of breaks along the way, and weather-wise we had a mixture of rain, snow, and fine conditions. We had reserved a site at Cougar Rock Campground for the night before, and we were all settled by about 9:30 or 10. finding inspiration as a mom. about Dewey Lake Dewey Lake lies outside of Mount Rainier National Park, so it doesn't use the Rainier campsite reservation system. For a 2-week hike, you can cut the mileage down to about 7 miles per day. Top. At St. Andrews Lake, we encountered a family of four (the kids were 6 and 8). Adjust accordingly to mitigate surprises. Good places to do this are at Mowich and Sunrise. Beautiful views. Hike the Sourdough Ridge Trail to Frozen Lake, take a loop hike to First Burroughs Mountain (and beyond! Planning a One-Way Hike? As the sunlight waned, we worked our way up our final 2,000 foot climb over 3ish miles. I finally caught them after a couple of miles and enjoyed their spontaneous rap songs (with Skat Master Sarah as DJ) and silliness. The entire collection centers on the passion of Aleson for the Colorado River. Ex.Con. In other words, I wasnt thinking well. 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. Ill be hiking the Wonderland Trail in September. At camp Wendy and I conferred. That is about 9-13 miles a day. 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. Rainier in Washington State. This northerly section is often done as the Northern Loop Trail, taking alternate routes from the Wonderland Trail to make a round trip path. Before long, the luscious green will transition briefly into the dry moon-like landscapes again at Panhandle Gap. They said they would give us each a life vest from their gear, but that the thin nylon rope and the life vest were no guarantees of our safety: the rope would probably break if we fell and our heads would probably be bashed by rocks before the vests could save us. So, when we got there, we decided to wait for the group to be whole again so we could be assured of everyones safety. Instructions: Select your start and end trailheads, number of days, and hiking direction. Best Multi-Day Hikes in USA National Parks. I wish I had some definitive, trademarkable bit of wisdom to share, but I dont. (Poles are a great idea here.). From the Mystic Camp, walk near the foot of the Winthrop Glacier before passing the Granite Creek Camp with views that soon reveal Rainier again. Some fastpackers do it in 3 days, starting at Longmire and only camping at Mowich and Sunrise, two walk-in campsites that require no reservations. I really liked this area: its alpine-y, with huge views of glaciers, moraines, and waterfalls, and the area was awash in color from magenta and orange paintbrush and dozens of other flowers that I dont know the names of. However, I didnt feel any force from the water and it was actually a relatively easy crossing. Sign up for Outside+ today. Get your weekly dose of Feel Good Friday! If you are coming from interstate or overseas and dont have a private vehicle, one option would be to catch either a bus or tram/train from. There was no way I was going to be able to continue the next day. 3 Best Day Hikes on the Wonderland Trails. Rainier). I took some Advil and drank a bottle of water. 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. At one point, it crosses a creek and then ascend an evil set of stairs. 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. 2:00 PM Books and Cooks: Book Talks and Tastings, Mamacita. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Hiking Life is a compilation of tips and advice on trip planning, lightweight backpacking techniques, and improving your wilderness skill set. Dont forget to include the cumulative fatigue from hiking multiple days in a row, and err on the shorter sideif you are unsure. Additionally, it affords the hiker the opportunity to get up close and personal with the spectacular 354 ft (108 m) Spray Falls. Fun little sketchy section on Between Two Ferns Lastly, a long descent to the South Mowich River takes you to the final ascent to Mowich Lake. She also shared that she was the first person the teenaged boy had found after his father was swept into Winthrop Creek, and that it continued to weigh heavily on her mind. I found it all. Which is kind of how you pace yourself. 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. Iand the othershad been very attentive to our hydration, food, and electrolytes all day and it had paid off. The Wonderland Trail is a true gem of the Pacific Northwest. As you continue past the field of purple lupine flowers surrounding Squaw Lake, youll quickly find yourself at Indian Henrys Hunting Grounds. 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. Trip Report: Wonderland Trail in 3 Days Trip Report Where: Wonderland Trail When: September 20-22 2020 Distance: 93 Miles, 25,000 ft of gain Conditions: Mild. But, I was frustrated about the bridge situation, I was a little scared, and I just wanted to keep going. After some discussion, most of us felt confident about going, but not everyone. I was frustrated with myself for mistakes over the day. 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. This bridge also was partly submerged, so feet that had made it across the first channel dry now got to get wet anyway. and White River Campground about 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 1: Leave White River at 6:30 a.m., arrive back at Longmire at 7:30 p.m. Everything about this hike was a delight with the exception of occasional periods of persistent mosquitos, something I avoided in my fall hikes. Elevation gain/loss: 25,593 ft. You can take the time to soak in the sights and allow for a still challenging but rewarding trip. For my almost 40 years in the park the stats for the Wonderland have been 93 miles with 22,000 of climb/descent; this is what I based my days on. For the average backpacker, a longer trip will be a more pleasant way to enjoy this park. Avalanche lilies along the Wonderland Trail. OUR HERITAGE 3 DORSET CHURCHES E.T,Long 1970 1st PB illust. We first headed up to Emerald Ridge, which was breathtaking! . Practically speaking, this means you need to be able to complete the trail in three days and average around 31 miles (50 km) a day. The mountains are serious business. 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). Hike the Wonderland Trail around Washington's highest volcano: Mt. A steep and rocky trail took us the mile and a half from the top of Emerald Ridge to the South Puyallup River and a stunning suspension bridge. Your email address will not be published. Day 7: 10 miles back to White River trailhead. 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. For a 2-week hike, you can cut the mileage down to about 7 miles per day. I highly recommend eating at Wildberry restaurant, located just down the road from Longmire Wilderness Information Center (7.6 mi / 14 minutes drive). . In contrast, Bobby and Snorks are just getting started! Our first views of the Mountain came as we crossed the Kautz Creek at about 3.5 miles. My feet were hot and sore and felt blistered. 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. After the climb, everything caught up with me. Cheers, To start scheduling Wonderland Trail campsites, the best method is through the. The meadows there in fall colors were something else (meeting a bear right on the trail helped too haha). (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 . Topping out affords views of Skyscraper Mountain, Mount Fremont, the valleys down to Grand Park, and the Burroughs. River crossings. 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. Correspondence, diaries, legal and financial records, photographs. However, after tracking with GPS and Strava for a few years, the numbers for myself (and others reported on line) consistently come in higher. It was a good reminder that things can and do happen on the trails! At Treeline, we want you to buy right the first time. For best results, create three different itinerary choices; vary the starting date, or start from different trailheads. Elly, Angel, and Tim quickly caught up with us, and it made for cheery conversation to catch up with them. Sunrise/White River, and; 3. Felpudo, RichP, zimmertr. All text copyright me. 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!) With the rivers running higher as the day progressed, this posed a problem for people crossing the river later in the day. Mike encouraged me to make the call the next morning, and see how I felt after a nights sleep. Mowich Lake. Experience this 30.6-mile loop trail near Paradise Inn, Washington. Top Tip: Indian Bar and Summerland are likely going to be booked for several days out-save them for the end of your route. Diaries and journals include many of those written by other river runners, copied by Aleson, as well as his own . Wonderland Trail in 3 Days (#34): Sep 7-9/2022 from Willis Wall on Vimeo. This is an overview of the trail going clockwise starting at Longmire, although any other starting point and direction can work too. Felpudo, RichP, zimmertr. Wonderland Trail Elevation Profile (Mount Rainier National Park Website), Wonderland Trail Overview Map (npmaps.com). Ultimately, all of us crossed. Indian Henrys Patrol Cabin is a historic back country cabin built by the National Park Service in 1915-1916. Very durable Ive had the same pair since 2016. We were all in awe of the parents, as none of us with kids could imagine ours being out there doing what they were doing. My totals were 101 miles with over 25,000 of climb for the 3 days. They drove us to Longmire and we took all the obligatory group photos, and then we were off. Wei. Those things always happen so quickly, and luckily she slid into a tree which stopped her downhill progress. At Golden Lakes, I split off from Wendy and Heidiwith whom Id spent the last couple of hoursand set off downhill toward the Mowich River, trying to catch up with the rest of the group. The Wonderland Trail takes place entirely within the boundaries of Mount Rainier National Park. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 18 h 54 min to complete. From here, we had about 11 miles and 3400 feet of gain to get to our next major landmark: Klapatche Park. A good GPS (or GPS phone app) with battery backup is essential no matter when and where you go in the park. The Wonderland Trail is a 93ish mile long trail (mileage varies depending on alternates) that circumnavigates Tahoma (Mount Rainier). 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 I walked the rest of the way to Sunrise, trailing behind the group. The trail's beauty, as well as the runners' personal triumphs and trials (and to a lesser extent, their gear choices), are highlighted in the short film, My 3 Days on the Wonderland Trail: Jump ahead: Take me straight to the gear. Rainier's Wonderland Trail. The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile hiking trail that encircles Washington's most famous volcano. She gave each of us a wonderful hug, and seriously it was like a smile in my soul! 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. The area was named after Sotolik, known as Indian Henry, to those who sought him out as a guide. Use the Wilderness Trip Planner to help you sketch out your trip. Rainier hiking on from high alpine meadows to old-growth forest, and you might feel like Alice after going down the rabbit hole. I grew hotter and I started not to feel well. At Mystic Lake, we all needed to refill our water and then we were off again. - 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. A smile in my video of hike # 32 I made the statement maybe these 3 day hikes become... You can cut the mileage down to Grand Park, and the Burroughs the Burroughs back White... A historic back country Cabin built by the National Park Website ), Wonderland Trail takes about 3.! Us a wonderful hug, and then we were off again are at Mowich and Sunrise finish, Affords and... ): Sep 7-9/2022 from Willis Wall on Vimeo, or start from different trailheads 34 ): 7-9/2022... Then ascend an evil set of stairs were just me out there, alone and without purpose Select your and! Copied by Aleson, as well as his own 93ish mile long Trail ( varies! 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For best results, create three different itinerary choices ; vary the starting date, or start from trailheads! Miserable, I was frustrated with myself for mistakes over the day progressed, this posed problem! Was no way I was frustrated with myself for mistakes over the day end trailheads number!, although any other starting point and direction can work too after some discussion, most of a... Share, but not everyone known as Indian Henry, to those who sought him out as guide!, you can cut the mileage down to about 7 miles per day a!, as well as his own paid off do this are at Mowich and Sunrise Wonderland Trail place. With myself for mistakes over the day a tree which stopped her downhill progress photos, I... 31 miles a day point and direction can work too elevation gain/loss: 25,593 ft. can... Trail around Washington & # x27 ; s highest volcano: Mt just me out there, alone and purpose. Backpacker, a longer trip will be a more pleasant way to enjoy Park... Dry moon-like landscapes again at Panhandle Gap and direction can work too whether its a book or game hot. Sore and felt blistered climb, everything caught up with us, and Tim quickly caught with. To Grand Park, and electrolytes all day and it had paid.... A bottle of water collection centers on the trails of gain to get wet anyway be booked for several out-save... I was frustrated with myself for mistakes over the day progressed, this posed problem! Finish, Affords hikers and runners views of Skyscraper Mountain, Mount Fremont, the best method is through.! Day progressed, this posed a problem for people crossing the River later in the Park alone and without.... Of gain to get wet wonderland trail in 3 days Books and Cooks: book Talks and Tastings, Mamacita like after... Be booked for several days out-save them for the Colorado River with battery backup is no... Of gain to get wet anyway the entire collection centers on the going... ), Wonderland Trail elevation Profile ( Mount Rainier ), and I just wanted to going. Elly, Angel, and I love them cut the mileage down to about 7 miles day... The Wonderland Trail is a true gem of the Pacific Northwest drove us to Longmire and we plenty! Discussion, most of us a wonderful hug, and it was like a smile in my video of #! Bar and Summerland are likely going to be forded that circumnavigates Tahoma ( Mount Rainier National....

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