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. for updates. Day 6: 9.9 miles to Indian Bar campsite. ), 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. Trail Stats. Its a jaw-dropping airy crossing above the glacial melt river and the swinging bridge is not for the faint of heart. 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. 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. Appalachian Trail - Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. For best results, create three different itinerary choices; vary the starting date, or start from different trailheads. I started both my Wonderland Trail hikes at Longmire, which has a ranger station, museum, shop, and indoor accommodation in the form of the historic, 2,320 ft (720 m) Ipsut Creek Campground, As of 2020, there is no public transport available to Mount Rainier National Park. 2:30 PM A Man, A Mouse, The Magic, 2023 Disney Movies. Once again I am thankful to be healthy enough to pull off another 3 day transit of Mt. 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. 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. After the climb, everything caught up with me. Hiking the Wonderland Trail around Mt. Even as I was packing, I had doubts about my focus and questioned whether I had the level of commitment in my heart to pull this off. . It was unnervingbecause the water was so brown from the silt is was carrying, when the waves of water crossed the bridge Id lose sight of my feet and the bridge itself. Translation: I was cocky, didnt take the day as seriously as I had the day before, and I just about trashed the trip for myself as a result. 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. There is no additional cost to you and the decision to buy something is up to you. Finish it up with a nice descent along Paradise River, with the babbling water flowing alongside the trail as you pass the hustle bustle of Cougar Rock Campground. Our first views of the Mountain came as we crossed the Kautz Creek at about 3.5 miles. 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. So, when we got there, we decided to wait for the group to be whole again so we could be assured of everyones safety. Get your weekly dose of Feel Good Friday! Casual . 2.99 + 2.69 Postage. Rainier National Park, eat at the National Park Inn at Longmire, sleep at Cougar Rock Campground. At St. Andrews Lake, we encountered a family of four (the kids were 6 and 8). Time: 3-14 days. 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. Day 4: 13.7 miles to Devil's Dream campsite. Helps keep the mud out of my trail runners. 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. Good places to do this are at Mowich and Sunrise. I was under the impression that I wouldnt, but you do need a reservation for each site according to the ranger that helped me. The people you do things with flavor your experiences. runner. 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+ The best way to increase your odds are to (1) be one of the first in line and (2) have a good understanding of the campsites so you can make decisions on the fly as to whether a certain itinerary would work for your schedule (advice from Chris, the guy who secured our permits). At the bottom of the ridge, youll end up at Nickel Creek and another section of forest. The entire collection centers on the passion of Aleson for the Colorado River. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Its higher, tougher, and more scenic than the official trail. The ranger advised to wait an hour, and we could see where things stood with the bridge improvements. Its been so long that I dont remember why that trip never came together. There is often more availability for partial Wonderland Trail backpacking trips. The AllAroundJoe blog & podcast is documentation of my crazy experiments to improve my lifestyle, and human performance, that will in-turn improve yours. finding inspiration as a mom. The bugs seemed happy, though. The rangers told us we could wait another 3 hours for them to finish the bridge in order to be safer. Wonderland Trail Elevation Profile (Mount Rainier National Park Website), Wonderland Trail Overview Map (npmaps.com). Adjust individual days in the generated itinerary below. This was a big deal because our feet were feeling the miles and keeping them happy was a priority. Twenty miles into the day the Wonderland Trail crosses pavement at Box Canyon. - 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. I finally caught them after a couple of miles and enjoyed their spontaneous rap songs (with Skat Master Sarah as DJ) and silliness. and White River Campground about 7 p.m. 1. 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. I then ran to the bathroom to take care of the other side of things. It sits in an open meadow at 5,300 feet above sea level. We popped out on the road and felt a sense of dislocation with the sudden change of scenery, but quickly returned to the forest for more climbing. Required fields are marked *. Rainier. And some people give of themselves to be your crew, to help make it happen for you. While we debated our course of action and looked at the bridge, we literally watched the water level rise. A trail that could be cruel and giving. The Wonderland Trail climbs and falls 23,000 feet over those 93 miles. All planning details have been updated as of June 2020. 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. 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. . From here, we had about 11 miles and 3400 feet of gain to get to our next major landmark: Klapatche Park. Adam, Ana, Sharon, Heidis husband Bill, and Mike had hot food and cold drinks ready for us, and I dont think we showed any manners at all as we shoveled it into our faces. Day 2 - 15.10 Miles - From Mountain View Tank To Freeman Road trailhead - Day 2 Cholla forests and saguaros tooBlue skies and beautiful viewsLong day with many ups and downs through cow countryWind blew in cold air in the afternoon, an omen of the weather to come. Mowich Lake. Those things always happen so quickly, and luckily she slid into a tree which stopped her downhill progress. 2014 Wonderland Trail crew at the Wildberry Restaurant (L to R) Bobcat, Malto, Snorkel, Swami. I thought circumnavigating one mountain will be somewhat dull at the times, but I ended up enjoying every single minute of the trail. Fun little sketchy section on Between Two Ferns the elder statesmen of the group), weve likely got a lot more miles behind us than we do in front of us! It is a strenuous hike with lots of elevation gain and loss, through lowland forests and valleys and into high alpine and sub-alpine areas. A number of side hikes along the way will tempt more miles from you. Mount Rainiers many glaciers are the source of nine major rivers and their tributaries. The flower show was sometimes astounding, with entire meadows carpeted with avalanche lilies and hillsides bursting with myriad colors. Best Multi-Day Hikes in USA National Parks. Use the Wilderness Trip Planner to help you sketch out your trip. Our first landmark, at 5.5 miles and 2500 feet, was Devils Dream. My thoughts remain with the man who died and especially with his son, who witnessed everything. For reference, if you plan for 10 days, youll need to average 9 miles per day. . The Wonderland Trail is 93 miles (150 km) long and encircles Mount Rainier. You can take the time to soak in the sights and allow for a still challenging but rewarding trip. With the rivers running higher as the day progressed, this posed a problem for people crossing the river later in the day. If Im out in nature with everything I need in the world on my back, chances are my smile is wide and my thoughts are clear., Posted onJune 9, 2020February 12, 2023AuthorCam8 Comments. It was insanely gorgeous! 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. Here's the video I did for this year's hike. If you can peel yourself away from those bewitching meadows, the moderate trail will take you to the famous Tahoma Creek Suspension Bridge, the longest bridge in the national park. After a climb and a short descent into the Kautz Creek Basin, youll reachPyramid Creek Camp, a great place to rest before heading up another long ascent to Devils Dream Camp. Yes, she did finish itin addition to the leftovers from a couple of other plates as well! The Fastest Known Time (FKT) stats for the trail (as of September 2022) include Male Supported: Tyler Green 16h 40m 55s, Male Unsupported: Ryan Montgomery 18h 49m 11s, Female Supported: Kaytlyn Gerbin 18h 41m 54s, Female Unsupported: Alex Borsuk . 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). mauderunner, Musings About 2020: Pandemic, Turmoil, and Running. 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.. Check your email to get access! Correspondence (12 lin. : If youre not keen on carrying supplies for the entire circuit, food caching options are as follows: 1. There were Wonderland Trail signs along the way, marking our expected interactions with the day hikers and tourists. Time -1 hr 30 min / Cost $75 to $90, Tarptent Aeon Li (including Easton stakes), The Wonderland Trail takes place entirely within the boundaries of. At Panhandle Gapthe highest point on the Wonderland at 6800 feetwe toasted with a few sips of whisky. 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. I was totally demoralized by this uphill-downhill which noodles along a ridge and provides way too many false summits. 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. With our tents and sleeping bags waiting for us, we changed out some gear in our packs and fell into bed. Soon, youll climb out of the river bed and pop out to Mystic Lake, which hosts another campsite and ranger station. Ive had the good fortune to hike this most aptly named of pathways on two occasions 2003 and 2014. 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. Enjoy another rich meadow before descending back into the forest to the South Puyallup River Camp. A daily hike of 7 to 10 miles is recommended to compensate for the ruggedness of the trail. Felpudo, RichP, zimmertr. 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. Instructions: Select your start and end trailheads, number of days, and hiking direction. Additionally, it affords the hiker the opportunity to get up close and personal with the spectacular 354 ft (108 m) Spray Falls. A trail that would overwhelm my senses with its grandeur. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Safarika Adventure Club (Safarika Travel Inc.) was founded in Los Angeles (CA) in the year 2013. Did the WT late September and it was as good as it gets. Hi Scott, 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. When I was in my 20s, I went on two backpacking trips with my brother, Rob, and his friend, Kip, in the High Sierras of California. 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. Rainier. . Tips for Preventing and Treating Tick Bites, Trail Runners Vs. At Mystic Lake, we all needed to refill our water and then we were off again. I love how luxuries and civilization are a shock after just a couple of days on the trail. My Suggested Time: 5 days Possible Time: 2 or 3 days Most Popular Months: July/August Booking Required: Yes* Application Cost: $20 (per group) Day 2: Mowich Lake to White River Campground. To access the cascade, head down a short, signposted side trail. The meadow had been used in the 19th century by the Cowlitz and Nisqually tribes. 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. Unless youre an elite ultrarunner, youll need to dedicate at least a few days to cover the Wonderland Trail. As we waited, the day continued to warm and my earlier Sunrise-or-bust attitude started to tear me apart. One of the coolest moments of my 2014 WT hike was this close encounter of the feathered kind. This northerly section is often done as the Northern Loop Trail, taking alternate routes from the Wonderland Trail to make a round trip path. It's one of the most iconic trails in the region, and with very good reason. 1:30 PM Simply Fun Cooking, St. Patrick's Day Recipes. Deserts, jungles, mountains or coast; Ive never had a preference. Cheery thoughts. This trail was established at the turn of the century when the "Wonderland" was an attraction used to promote . 2. To start scheduling Wonderland Trail campsites, the best method is through the lottery system, open mid February to early March every year. Double thumbs up. , and; 3. My family, my husband, and my friends give me purpose and direction, and I love them. Dont forget to include the cumulative fatigue from hiking multiple days in a row, and err on the shorter sideif you are unsure. Very durable Ive had the same pair since 2016. Ipsut Creek Camp is not too far from Mowich and offers a lowland experience by the Carbon River. Don Quixote is a Spanish epic novel by Miguel de Cervantes.Originally published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615, its full title is The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha or, in Spanish, El ingenioso hidalgo don Quixote de la Mancha (changing in Part 2 to El ingenioso caballero don Quixote de la Mancha). Get my Superhuman Body podcast series now. 3. We took plenty of breaks along the way, and weather-wise we had a mixture of rain, snow, and fine conditions. 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. It can be completed in 7-10 days. For a 2-week hike, you can cut the mileage down to about 7 miles per day. Each year, hikers vie for permits to embark on a backpacking trip on it, with only a handful scoring the permits to undertake this strenuous hike. The climbs and descents were different. There are essentially 3 areas where you can enter Mount Rainier National Park and access the Wonderland Trail. It was along this descent that Heidi stepped on a loose rock the wrong way and was suddenly sliding off the trail. And a lot of mosquitoes. Felpudo, RichP, zimmertr. There are three main trailhead options that have both camping and parking. Hi, any loose rock getting down to Tahoma Suspension bridge after Indian Henry (via Longmire). I switched my headlamp on with just over a mile to go. 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. 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. Extra Socks Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew. Each time, Ive wanted to see more, experience more, of this wonder: a trail that goes around Mt. The meadows there in fall colors were something else (meeting a bear right on the trail helped too haha). 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. 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. When we arrived, Rachel was soaking her feet in the creek and she shared that two humongous blisters were troubling her. Sunrise/White River, and; 3. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 18 h 54 min to complete. The Wonderland Trail crosses numerous ridges and valleys, generally taking 8-12 days to complete. I encountered a fair number of blowdowns, some requiring crotch -stretching-bark burning gyrations to get around or under behemoth trees. The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile loop around the base of Mt. The patrol cabin is located at Indian Henrys Hunting Ground in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington State, USA. 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 Another downside: trail maintenance on the west side of the mountain was lacking. Not too sure about the cumulative mileage, but I do know that in both Malto and my case (i.e. We then headed off toward our last climb of the trip. 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 Wonderland Trail hike at a glance Location: Mount Rainier National Park Distance: 96-mile loop Elevation: 25,341 feet Difficulty Rating: Extremely challenging Timing: 6-8 days Pets: No Permits: Wilderness permits required for camping overnight in the park View the trail notes 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 Save some time to take a few pictures at Box Canyon, a narrow slot canyon tumbling with whitewater, before you cross the Stevens Canyon Road to follow Stevens Creek uphill. Distance: 93 miles. 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. Its got one of the most photogenic views of Rainier with an open subalpine meadow and a lovely ranger patrol cabin to bring you back in time. You can take the time to soak in the sights and allow for a still challenging but rewarding trip. 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. The Wonderland Trail quickly became popular with hikers. Arguably one of the premier views of the iconic peak is from the Goat Rocks Wilderness | This photo was taken during my first Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike in 2007. Such an amazing accomplishment! Rainier on the Wonderland Trail in three days. Everything about this hike was a delight with the exception of occasional periods of persistent mosquitos, something I avoided in my fall hikes. 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. Once we hit the Carbon River, we were on known territory for me. The longer days meant I spent most of my trail time sans headlamp, putting in 14-15 hour days. White Rabbit Chronicles (2012 - 2019) is a series by Gena Showalter. Diaries and journals include many of those written by other river runners, copied by Aleson, as well as his own . Love to all! Your average backpacker takes 7-10 days to hike the trail. However, I didnt feel any force from the water and it was actually a relatively easy crossing. From Sunrise to White River is 3 downhill miles. Currently the Carbon River Road is washed out and closed to all access, including hikers, but check the park website for updates. But it was always there, in the back of my mind. As for me, I left camp queasy, uncertain, and determined. 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. In other words, I wasnt thinking well. The Wonderland trail is usually accessible between late July and late September. Check the conditions on the parks site. We pushed into a run to get out of there and soon arrived at Indian Henrys Hunting Ground. Hike the Wonderland Trail around Washington's highest volcano: Mt. There's a great website that will help you map out several . Thats exactly what the Wonderland Trail is: a 93-mile (150 km) trek around Mt Rainier, the most glaciated peak in the lower 48 states. Longmire; 2. Sign up for Outside+ today. Founder & CEO - Karina Safari, professional adventure travel organizer and team leader since 2011. Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. Zillow has 2197 homes for sale. 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. To follow the quieter, official Wonderland Trail, continue around Mowich Lake to Ipsut Creek. Aleson, as well because our feet were feeling the miles and keeping them happy a... Bridge after Indian Henry ( via Longmire ) main trailhead options that have both camping parking! ; s the video I did for this year & # x27 ; s Dream campsite feet those. And falls 23,000 feet over those wonderland trail in 3 days miles ( 150 km ) and! The meadows there in fall colors were something else ( meeting a bear right on the Wonderland 6800... Landmark, at 5.5 miles and 3400 feet of gain to get around or under behemoth trees soon arrived Indian... 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