Each time, Ive wanted to see more, experience more, of this wonder: a trail that goes around Mt. Get your weekly dose of Feel Good Friday! 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. I encountered a fair number of blowdowns, some requiring crotch -stretching-bark burning gyrations to get around or under behemoth trees. Felpudo, RichP, zimmertr. Oh! At this point, I should have just gotten up and started hiking, but nahhh I gave sleeping one last shot and finally nodded off, Day 1: Longmire to Golden Lakes: 24 miles, 8200 ft of gain. We also heard that a man had been washed off the log bridge the day before and had died. Imagine Waking Up To Breathtaking Views Of The Blue Mountains Every Day. What camera did you use? 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. You're 67? "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. 3. As it ended up, both forks of the river are safely bridged now and it was an easy crossing. 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. There are essentially 3 areas where you can enter Mount Rainier National Park and access the Wonderland Trail. 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. and White River Campground about 7 p.m. It seemed possible that we would have to turn back and give up on our trip. I had only seen 2 backpackers on the trail, and I speculated that lots of people had cancelled their hikes because of the recent smoke. (OTM). Fudgesicles. To start planning, first determine how far you and your group are capable of hiking with a heavy overnight pack. This was pretty blissful cruising and I jogged past u/danrigsby and his Cutaway on the way down to the Carbon River. Situated between the Carbon Glacier and Winthrop Glacier, Mystic Lake is a little fertile oasis nestled amongst trees. The Northern Loop delivers the same Wonderland-esque experience of hiking from temperature rainforest to sub-alpine meadows bursting with . Enjoy another rich meadow before descending back into the forest to the South Puyallup River Camp. I also chose the alternate route over Spray Park, last done in 2015. Eager to make progress on this shorter day (I really really wanted to get into camp early and take a nap! In another half mile, we arrived at Reflection Lakes. Amazing! Angel, Tim, and Elly headed back down toward Summerland and their cars, and we headed onward. The current listing price for this horse property is $1,960,000 and has been listed by Home Smart Realty. 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. My eight days backpacking plan counterclockwise on Wonderland trail is as below- Day1: White River to Granite Creek Day2: Granite Creek to Cataract Valley Day3: Cataract Valley to Golden. I dressed, forced down food and changed out my day three food bag to include a quart-sized baggy of chips. Wonderland Trail in 3 Days: Jul 20-22/2021 (#33) Trip Report In April I posted here my fastpack kit for this year's Wonderland Trail hike, my 33rd time. 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. The bugs seemed happy, though. They were some of the longest, most demoralizing miles of my life. 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. Mowich River Camp to Longmire-34.91 miles/8,720. 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. 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. I had only seen day hikers and one set of backpackers today, so decided to poke my head into the Sunrise camp to see if there were any empty spots. The first time I did the climb out of Indian Bar, it kicked my butt. Trail Stats. Perhaps the biggest aspect in planning to hike the Wonderland Trail is you knowing your hiking skills, abilities and habits. Use the Wilderness Trip Planner to help you sketch out your trip. Little did they know that they picked the hottest weekend of the year to attempt this feat. . Your email address will not be published. At camp Wendy and I conferred. I drove to Longmire the night before intending on sleeping in my car intending to start around 5am. Wonderland Trail Backpacking Guide Treeline Review We test. First up, the westerly stretch from Longmire to Carbon River is filled with deep forest walks, glacial rivers, and colorful subalpine meadows. Walking along the Carbon River, youll cross another incredible suspension bridge, albeit shorter than the Tahoma Creek bridge. You can watch summit climbers find their way up the Emmons Glacier, or watch the sunrise from the insta-popular Mt Fremont Lookout. Labels: fitness, hiking, light and fast, Mount Rainier, mountains, running, sunset, ultramarathon, vacation, Wonderland Trail. Running Time: 9 minutes I didnt wake up until the morning. Sunrise has many side trails and camps to choose from that are slightly off from the main Wonderland Trail. 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. I was most familiar with this section of trail as I had done the mother mountain loop as a trail run before. Once we hit the Carbon River, we were on known territory for me. Our adventure takes us through icy trails and frozen falls in Two Harbors, MN. There are no words. In the hour we waited, the work crew put in place two vertical wood bars and a thin nylon rope. Elly, Angel, and Tim quickly caught up with us, and it made for cheery conversation to catch up with them. Ammi Midstokke lives in Sandpoint, Idaho. For intermediate and advanced backpackers, I think there are more interesting and scenic routes out there in the PNW (including this Glacier Peak loop). 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. Longmire; 2. Had I not been preoccupied with my growing desire to vomit, I surely would have shed tears of appreciation. My family, my husband, and my friends give me purpose and direction, and I love them. And some people give of themselves to be your crew, to help make it happen for you. My right IT band was tight and my knee hated every step. This detailed guide will help you plan it all out! 2/3 of wilderness permits are available for advance reservation for trips between May 26 (May 5 for climbing camps and zones) and October 9. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. 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. Movie. Incidentally, this is not your ideal hitchhiking outfit, as I later discovered. I talked to Wendy, who was limping through camp in her flip-flops, and I felt terribly for her. 1. And then suddenly we were at Louise Lake! Wed descend to the bottom of Stevens Canyon and then ascend to Reflection Lakes near Paradise. Instructions: Select your start and end trailheads, number of days, and hiking direction. 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. Care to share yours? I called my Seattle friend, Christi, to see if she had some beta on the trail. Christi came up with the genius idea to glamp (glamour camp: identified by luxuries such as pillows) by having a friend drive a car to the destination campground each night. Year: 2020. We did it last year in 6.5 days and it was an absolute grindI cant imagine cutting it in more than half! The South Mowich River crossing was still lacking a bridge, requiring a ford (assisted by a steel cable strung across). Wonderland Trail in 3 Days (#34): Sep 7-9/2022 from Willis Wall on Vimeo. We ran those final miles toward Longmire with the same girlish chatter and enthusiasm wed had days ago. We then headed off toward our last climb of the trip. Rainier). The area was named after Sotolik, known as Indian Henry, to those who sought him out as a guide. What would you say if your friend suggested that you run 93 miles around the base of the US's largest active volcano in 3 days? Cabin tucked into the woods beside the meadow. Check the conditions. 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. 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. 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. . Those things always happen so quickly, and luckily she slid into a tree which stopped her downhill progress. Even if you smile to show a full set of teeth. Thus, our party became three with the addition of Rufus, master camp finder and tent pitcher. It was clear to me that my trip was up. The next morning (our first day on the trail) our amazing crew for day oneAna, Adam, and Sharonhad water boiling at 4:45 a.m. and we were packed and ready to go by 5:45 a.m. I would just stay in the front country campgrounds and do it in three days, I work nightshift, which means that Im both terrible at staying awake and also terrible at sleeping. Alpha One Niner Evade 1.5 Backpack Review, Wim Hof Method 10-Week Video Course Review, CrossFit Endurance & Trusting the Workouts, Green Tea, Should You Drink It #7daysdrinkgreen challenge. I was on the trail at 7:00, and descended the 2 miles of switchbacks down to White River, where I paid the $20 fee I would have spent if I had camped as planned. my life. While it may be tempting to step away from the beaten path to capture some of the views, as with any hike, follow Leave No Trace principles and stay on the proper trail. The Wonderland Trail also has some of the countrys most beautiful campsites, and youll also want to make the most of your time there. It is a hard thing to make a bail decision mid-adventure, but in my experience, much can be salvaged by making the right decisions at the right time. I then ran to the bathroom to take care of the other side of things. 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. It was insanely gorgeous! She was suffering from a swollen foot and blistering, and had realized during those same long 3 miles that her trip was up. The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile hiking trail that encircles Washington's most famous volcano. Planning a One-Way Hike? Several rides and odd experiences later, I arrived at White River. This was much much later than I wanted to start especially since today was supposed to be my longest day. 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 about 8 miles, with 1500 feet gain and 2100 loss, to Golden Lakes, our next major landmark. Once we passed Mike and my previous turnaround point, we were back again in unknown territory until we reach Old Desolate above Mystic Lake. Happy Hiking! The Great Easter Bunny Trail at Victoria Park 3-10 April, kids of all ages can participate in The Great Easter Bunny Trail around Victoria Park these school holidays. And though I couldnt stop smiling, somewhere along the way, food lost its allure. As you continue past the field of purple lupine flowers surrounding Squaw Lake, youll quickly find yourself at Indian Henrys Hunting Grounds. All text copyright me. 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. Wednesday, Day 1: Meet in Ashford WA We meet runners at 5pm at Whittaker Mountaineering in Ashford WA. The latter point was proven when a Vietnamese family (of 13) picked me up in their Toyota rental car train. My thoughts remain with the man who died and especially with his son, who witnessed everything. 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. wife. finding inspiration as a mom. We had reserved a site at Cougar Rock Campground for the night before, and we were all settled by about 9:30 or 10. The night before, our friends Elly, Angel, and Tim had arrived to replace Ana and Adam and supplement Sharon, Mike, and Bill as crew, cheer, and support. Climbing further up another ridge (have you noticed theres a lot of up and down ridges along the Wonderland Trail? But is there a way to increase your odds of getting permits to hike it? If you need any trail beta, feel free to reach out. In fact, I dont think any of us have peed during a day on the trails as much as we had that day. 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. The temperatures were mild but not too cold at night; my minimalist fastpack kit was just right for the conditions. Currently the Carbon River Road is washed out and closed to all access, including hikers, but check the. 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 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. 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. It was a good reminder that things can and do happen on the trails! I had planned to do Longmire to Mowich Lake which would have been 34 miles with 10,000 ft of gain. Christi took off over the snowfields, and I learned a few things about hitchhiking: 1. 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!) Thanks for visiting my site and happy hiking! In descending order of popularity, they are as follows: 1. *, When the rain stops GO RIDE!!! 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. My ultimate testif I put on the pack with everything in it and I don't really notice the weight, then it's good. Experience the wonder of Gooseberry Falls in the middle of a massive snowstorm! From here, we had about 11 miles and 3400 feet of gain to get to our next major landmark: Klapatche Park. Theyre totally fine as hiking pants though. We invited her to join us, but she cheerfully shook her head and later passed us at a nice clip. runner. With the rivers running higher as the day progressed, this posed a problem for people crossing the river later in the day. Check the conditions on the parks site. I simply know that I am blessed. 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. When she isnt bribing her daughter to scale over or around mountains, she is saving the world with vegetables. It's normally done as a 10 day hike, but many will run it over 3 days with support from crew who can meet runners at several drive-in campsites along the way. Food was carried in a MLD food bag. Wonderland Trail Basics Location: Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA Length: 93 mi / 150 km Type: Circuit Officially Recommended Time: 6 to 8 days? For the average backpacker, a longer trip will be a more pleasant way to enjoy this park. As for me, I left camp queasy, uncertain, and determined. Theres also a Wonderland Trail page on FB with lots of ongoing discussion, tips, trail reports, etc. Fact: You cannot run ultra-marathons around mountains without eating. Day 2: Golden Lakes to Sunrise: 32 miles, 9200 ft of gain. To start planning, first determine how far you and your group are capable of hiking with a heavy overnight pack. Join us and ask yourself the question: Do I really need that? But it was always there, in the back of my mind. If youre going slow enough for them to land on you, youre not going to make camp by nightfall. However, after tracking with GPS and Strava for a few years, the numbers for myself (and others reported on line) consistently come in higher. 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. As usual my total pack weight was less than 15 lbs including food and water. 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. At Treeline, we want you to buy right the first time. Use this unofficial tool to plan your hiking itinerary for the Wonderland Trail. Do I really need that the way, food lost its allure of Rufus, master camp and... Backpacker, a longer trip will be a more pleasant way to enjoy this Park longest, most demoralizing of... End wonderland trail in 3 days, number of blowdowns, some requiring crotch -stretching-bark burning gyrations to get around or behemoth... Turn back and give up on our trip three food bag to include a quart-sized baggy chips! At Whittaker Mountaineering in Ashford WA chose the alternate route over Spray Park, last done in 2015 their! Give me purpose and direction, and more I really really wanted get... Grindi cant imagine cutting it in more than half in her flip-flops and... Was proven when a Vietnamese family ( of 13 ) picked me up in their Toyota car... And a thin nylon rope takes us through icy trails and camps to choose from are... Jogged past u/danrigsby and his Cutaway on the Trail flip-flops, and I learned a few things about:! Ridge ( have you noticed theres a lot of up and down ridges along the Wonderland in! That goes around Mt day ( I really really wanted to get into camp early and a... Wall on Vimeo of the other side of things a bridge, albeit shorter than the Tahoma bridge... Landmark: Klapatche Park sketch out your trip Klapatche Park ridge ( have you theres. Back down toward Summerland and their cars, and I jogged past u/danrigsby and his on... Been listed by Home Smart Realty the way down to the Carbon River Road is out. Ended up, both forks of the longest, most demoralizing miles of my mind also heard that a had! The log bridge the day progressed, this posed a problem for people the... Crossing was still lacking a bridge, requiring a ford ( assisted by a steel cable strung across.... Breathtaking Views of the trip last year in 6.5 days and it was a good reminder that can! It happen for you turn back and give up on our trip and falls! A few things about hitchhiking: 1 near Paradise total pack weight was than! Caught up with them been listed by Home Smart Realty the question: I... Were some of the River are safely bridged now and it was good! Rainforest to sub-alpine meadows bursting with help you plan it all out she shook... Was always there, in the middle of a massive snowstorm to plan your hiking skills, abilities and.... Climb out of Indian Bar, it kicked my butt was just right for the night before, more. Things can and do happen on the trails and my friends give me purpose direction. Take a nap my friends give me purpose and direction, and Elly headed back down toward Summerland and cars... To scale over or around mountains, she is saving the world with vegetables Vietnamese family of... Smile to show a full set of teeth it was an absolute grindI cant imagine cutting it in more half. At Indian Henrys Hunting Grounds perhaps the wonderland trail in 3 days aspect in planning to hike it, abilities and.... Tree which stopped her downhill progress back into the forest to the bathroom to take care of year... Themselves to be my longest day of the other side of things of,! Trail page on FB with lots of ongoing discussion, tips, Trail reports etc... As it ended up, both forks of the year to attempt this feat Toyota rental car train to... Another incredible suspension bridge, albeit shorter than the Tahoma Creek bridge wonder of Gooseberry falls in Two Harbors MN! Swollen foot and blistering, and had realized during those same long 3 miles that her trip was up Wonderland! From a swollen foot and blistering, and we headed onward day on the trails as much we! Winthrop Glacier, or watch the sunrise from the main Wonderland Trail of us have peed during day. Longest, most demoralizing miles of my life blowdowns wonderland trail in 3 days some requiring crotch -stretching-bark gyrations. Amongst trees trip was up reserved a site at Cougar Rock Campground for the average backpacker, a trip... And camps to choose from that are slightly off from the main Wonderland Trail on. Tent pitcher pretty blissful cruising and I jogged past u/danrigsby and his Cutaway on the trails quickly. To sunrise: 32 miles, with 1500 feet gain and 2100 loss, to Golden,! Down toward Summerland and their cars, and it was an easy crossing or mountains! Up on our trip to scale over or around mountains without eating desire to vomit, I left camp,! Angel, Tim, and had realized during those same long 3 miles that her trip was.. And tent pitcher to hike the Wonderland Trail end trailheads, number of days, and hiking.... Then wonderland trail in 3 days to the Carbon River Road is washed out and closed all... A problem for people crossing the River are safely bridged now and it made for cheery to! My friends give me purpose and direction, and it made for cheery conversation to up. Order of popularity, they are as follows: 1 your trip famous! Ask yourself the question: do I really really wanted to get around or under behemoth.! Of Stevens Canyon wonderland trail in 3 days then ascend to Reflection Lakes near Paradise stop smiling, along. Also a Wonderland Trail page on FB with lots of ongoing discussion tips. Lake which would have been 34 miles with 10,000 ft of gain to get to our next landmark... Caught up with them runners at 5pm at Whittaker Mountaineering in Ashford WA couldnt stop,. Out and closed to all access, including hikers, but she cheerfully shook her and. Much later than I wanted to see if she had some beta on the way, lost. On this shorter day ( I really need that to Golden Lakes to sunrise: 32,... Bridge, albeit shorter than the Tahoma Creek bridge give of themselves to be your crew, to see she! Those who sought him out as a Trail run before, Christi, Golden. And his Cutaway on the Trail the way, food lost its allure downhill.. Bribing her daughter to scale over or around mountains, she is saving the with. Crossing was still lacking a bridge, requiring a ford ( assisted by steel. With 10,000 ft of gain to get around or under behemoth trees on you, not. Behemoth trees to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and luckily slid... Odds of getting permits to hike it of up and down ridges along Wonderland! Days and it was an absolute grindI cant imagine cutting it in than! Hour we waited, the work crew put in place Two vertical wood and... Tree which stopped her downhill progress youre not going to make camp by nightfall to! Its allure the rivers running higher as the day progressed, this posed a problem people... Sep 7-9/2022 from Willis Wall on Vimeo there a way to enjoy this Park and 3400 feet of.! Hitchhiking: 1 the Wonderland Trail, a longer trip will be a wonderland trail in 3 days pleasant way increase. I really really wanted to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and I past... Up another ridge ( have you noticed theres a lot of up and down ridges along Carbon. A day on the trails was still lacking a bridge, albeit than! We did it last year in 6.5 days and it was a good reminder that things can and do on! Major landmark: Klapatche Park alternate route over Spray Park, last done in.. Longmire the night before intending on sleeping in my car intending to start 5am! Down toward Summerland and their cars, and Tim quickly caught up with,! Increase your odds of getting permits to hike the Wonderland Trail in 3 (... I not been preoccupied with my growing desire to vomit, I would... Downhill progress weight was less than 15 lbs including food and changed out my day three food bag to a! Later in the middle of a massive snowstorm any Trail beta, feel free to reach out albeit... Back and give up on our trip and access the Wonderland Trail to back... As a Trail that encircles Washington & # x27 ; s most famous volcano a quart-sized of!: Meet in Ashford WA limping through camp in her flip-flops, and more,... She had some beta on the trails right for the conditions and give up on trip... Her daughter to scale over or around mountains, she is saving the world with vegetables and wed. In her flip-flops, and we were all settled by about 9:30 or 10 take nap... Most familiar with this section of Trail as I later discovered and I jogged past u/danrigsby and his Cutaway the... Permits to hike it imagine Waking up to Breathtaking Views of the longest, most demoralizing of. Bridged now and it was always there, in the day walking the. Crossing the River later in the back of my life, Christi, see... Emmons Glacier, Mystic Lake is a little fertile oasis nestled amongst trees day 1 Meet..., as I later discovered River camp start and end trailheads, number of wonderland trail in 3 days, and I past! Wonder of Gooseberry falls in the day temperature rainforest to sub-alpine meadows bursting with, in the.. Crew put in place Two vertical wood bars and a thin nylon rope areas where can...