It was 8am! Be careful crossing the river. Here, the river had carved a new channel the day before, and we had to rock hop and finally just walk through the water to get to the bridge over the main channel. I desire medium danger williswall.com. 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. Rainier. 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. It is on many a backpacker's bucket list! After the Winthrop, you traverse gently up and down to Granite Creek and then ascend several hundred feet through forest. Next time I'll just bring puffy and a windshirt. Easy Breezy drops before H, My Feel Good Friday Email is in your inbox OR you. Your email address will not be published. This final solo stretch was an important time for me. I was totally demoralized by this uphill-downhill which noodles along a ridge and provides way too many false summits. 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. Rainier in Washington State. https://www.williswall.com/willis-wall-blog/2022/3/1/2022-wonderland-trail-prep. 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. But, I was frustrated about the bridge situation, I was a little scared, and I just wanted to keep going. My trip would never have happened if it were just me out there, alone and without purpose. After that bottle of water at 5 a.m., I decided to give the last leg of the trip a try. 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. Wonderland Trail in 3 Days (#34): Sep 7-9/2022 from Willis Wall on Vimeo. If youre going slow enough for them to land on you, youre not going to make camp by nightfall. Theyre totally fine as hiking pants though. The trail is relatively smooth, its not too steep, its all downhill, and its the homestretch. 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. We had been hearing from backpackers going the opposite direction that the crossing at the Winthrop Creek was bad and that we should get there as early as possible. Go To Hocking Hills, Ohio. 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! The MLS number of this property is 3052831 . 3. After crossing Kautz Creek, we continued our way up. Bottom line, my recent 3 day hikes over the past few years have gone better than ones I did even 25 years ago. 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. . As you continue past the field of purple lupine flowers surrounding Squaw Lake, youll quickly find yourself at Indian Henrys Hunting Grounds. The trail will deposit you back at Longmire, where you can kick back in one of their outdoor wicker chairs and pat yourself on the back for the successful thru-hike. I switched my headlamp on with just over a mile to go. Blog write up and video chronicle can be found here, hope you enjoy! We fantasized about carbonated beverages. . Region: Pacific West (Mount Rainier National Park, Washington) Length: 93 miles (7-10 days) Wonderland Trail GPX File Download Physical Difficulty: Moderate Its been so long that I dont remember why that trip never came together. Its about 8 miles, with 1500 feet gain and 2100 loss, to Golden Lakes, our next major landmark. Stewardship and Trail Maintenance Volunteer Opportunities, Inland NW Trails and Conservation Coalition, Negative Splits New Back to Nature Trail Run Series, Outdoorsy Summer Camps in the Inland NW 2021, Camping Destinations via Hike, Bike, or Bus, The Biggest Block Party of the Summer June 21, 2023. Heading out the door? We had reserved a site at Cougar Rock Campground for the night before, and we were all settled by about 9:30 or 10. For the average backpacker, a longer trip will be a more pleasant way to enjoy this park. I also chose the alternate route over Spray Park, last done in 2015. "The Wonderland Trail is one of the most popular in North America and West Coast athletes see the Wonderland as a hot place to run," Montgomery told The Seattle Times three days after. Tentatively on the docket for the year: Your email address will not be published. You guys are all the BEST! Join us and ask yourself the question: Do I really need that? Gives me hope that I can also do it at that agefingers crossed. Enjoy another rich meadow before descending back into the forest to the South Puyallup River Camp. New Trails and Old Classics in Nelson, B.C. Labels: fitness, hiking, light and fast, Mount Rainier, mountains, running, sunset, ultramarathon, vacation, Wonderland Trail. For day hiking, no permits are required other than the Mt Rainier National Park entrance fee (or the Annual National Park Pass). 152 likes, 4 comments - Christine Reed - Lady Unicorn (@ruggedoutdoorswoman) on Instagram: "It's easy to think the people we idolize have it all figured out. I arrived around 10pm, and snuggled up with my pillow and blanket in the back seat, and just stared at the ceiling of my car until about 4:30am. 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 you crest the gap, the views will open up beyond Rainier and all the way down to Mt Adams with rolling ridges ahead. Its a good trail for traditional/heavyweight backpackers, and lightweight beginners looking to do their first longer multi-day hike. I took some Advil and drank a bottle of water. This news definitely affected our outlooks. Views were pretty meh, as Rainier was mostly obscured in fog. Suggested amount of time: 3 days. 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. Fantastic and difficult trail in overall excellent condition. The ranger advised to wait an hour, and we could see where things stood with the bridge improvements. Trip Report: Wonderland Trail in 3 Days Where: Wonderland Trail When: September 20-22 2020 Distance: 93 Miles, 25,000 ft of gain Conditions: Mild. To start scheduling Wonderland Trail campsites, the best method is through the. Today we will hike 8 miles with a 3,600-foot elevation gain and 250-foot . Experienced hikers can complete the trail in 5-6 days. 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). Thu Sep 29, 2022 11:44 am. Its a jaw-dropping airy crossing above the glacial melt river and the swinging bridge is not for the faint of heart. Adjust individual days in the generated itinerary below. 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, Build an Ultralight Backpacking Setup for Less Than $650. Everything about this hike was a delight with the exception of occasional periods of persistent mosquitos, something I avoided in my fall hikes. For trips where I dont need an adjustable pole, Ill definitely be taking these over my Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork poles. 4. I was most familiar with this section of trail as I had done the mother mountain loop as a trail run before. To find out more about saving the world with kale or the misadventures of a single mom, visit her website. friend. Highs mid 50-70, Lows mid 30s. Soak in the scenery of the Ohanapecosh glacial moraine until you reach Indian Bar, dont forget to take a look at the waterfall on the Ohanapecosh River before passing through. This was pretty blissful cruising and I jogged past u/danrigsby and his Cutaway on the way down to the Carbon River. Avalanche lilies along the Wonderland Trail. If you choose to explore the Wonderland Trail on a multi-day trip, youll need a. to use any of the 18 campsites right next to the trail. Rainier National Park, eat at the National Park Inn at Longmire, sleep at Cougar Rock Campground. Amazing! https://www.williswall.com/willis-wall-blog/2022/9/12/wonderland-trail-in-3-days-34-sep-7-92022, As a PNW native, this is beyond inspiring. My feet needed no attention and my pack was unnoticeable. - UD Fastpack - pack fully loaded with food and water was ~17 lbs (6lbs ~9000 calories food, 2lbs water). While we debated our course of action and looked at the bridge, we literally watched the water level rise. Even . Continue on to the campsite at Golden Lakes. Use the Wilderness Trip Planner to help you sketch out your trip. She gave each of us a wonderful hug, and seriously it was like a smile in my soul! The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile hiking trail that encircles Washington's most famous volcano. Cheery thoughts. The Wonderland Trail also has some of the countrys most beautiful campsites, and youll also want to make the most of your time there. I went to bed resigned to failure. Most Wonderland Trail thru-hikes take between 9 and 12 days. Problem was, it was only 3:30pm. Sunrise has many side trails and camps to choose from that are slightly off from the main Wonderland Trail. Wonderland Trail Overview Distance: 93 miles Time: 3-14 days Difficulty: Strenuous Elevation gain/loss: 25,593 ft Dogs: No When to go: July-September Aspire serves and evening meal and we go . Fudgesicles. Day two began with denial of a stomach flu and a climb through picturesque Spray Park. Ugh. 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. We pushed into a run to get out of there and soon arrived at Indian Henrys Hunting Ground. 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. Unless youre an elite ultrarunner, youll need to dedicate at least a few days to cover the Wonderland Trail. Stage: 93 Miles, 3-Day . This bridge also was partly submerged, so feet that had made it across the first channel dry now got to get wet anyway. The flower show was sometimes astounding, with entire meadows carpeted with avalanche lilies and hillsides bursting with myriad colors. This Stunning One-Bdrm, One-Bth Unit Is The Perfect Home Base For All Your Outdoor Adventures. This side of the mountain is less visited because the Westside Road, which used to provide access to the west-side trailheads, is closed to cars since it was damaged by floods years ago. For day hiking, no permits are required other than the Mt Rainier National Park entrance fee (or the Annual National Park Pass). People will stop to tell you why they cant stop to pick you up. I desire medium danger williswall.com. The Wonderland Trail is 150 km of mostly single track that circumnavigates Mount Rainier with over 7,230 metres (23,700 feet) of cumulative elevation gain (plus equal loss of course). Hood on the Timberline Trail - Will Run for Whisky, Timberline Trail in a Day: Flowers, and rivers, and sand, oh my! Following the lottery, the remaining campsites open for reservations in late April. To start planning, first determine how far you and your group are capable of hiking with a heavy overnight pack. I was frustrated with myself for mistakes over the day. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The next section back to Longmire was frankly, uninspiring, and turned into an uninspiring endless slog in the dark. It would be fun to honor her memory by hiking one of her favorite trails. Once we hit the Carbon River, we were on known territory for me. 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. I started running and discovered UL in the last year, so being able to do those longer days should give me more options. Once again I am thankful to be healthy enough to pull off another 3 day transit of Mt.