Fellow trail maniac Marjan and I joined a group of Microsoft hikers to raise money for WNPF and to backpack ~1/3 of the Wonderland trail, from Mowich Lake to Sunrise.
The first day starts out cloudy. Ranger John recommends we deviate from the standard Wonderland trail and pick the Spray Park route to our first tent site, Carbon River Camp. Unfortunately we don’t get an opportunity to admire the views from that route, we hike mostly in fog and mist.
Second day the sun is back! We round the Carbon glacier and make our way through Moraine park to Mystic Lake and Mystic Camp.
Third day we traverse the terminal moraines of Winthrop glacier, admire the Garda Falls and climb up to our next camp, Granite Creek camp.
On our final fourth day, we cross over Skyscraper pass into Berkely Park, visit Frozen lake and descend to Sunrise ranger station, our final destination for this trip.
Given that the daily milage was moderate, we upped the ante on the gourmet side: Marjan and I planned and brought a bit more elaborate food to the trail. Most dinners we enjoy 2 courses, we splurge on gnocchi with fresh(!) basil (great idea, Marjan!), cucumber salad, fresh fruit, polenta with dried tomatoes, cheese, and of course, our daily red wine fix. Compared to the usual freeze-dried food, this cost us several extra pounds in our backpacks but the look on some of our fellow backpackers’ faces: priceless 🙂
What you cannot see in those pictures: the mosquitos around the creeks and lakes and especially at the camp sites are ferocious. Deed and bug nets keep them somehow at distance, but we still brought back plenty of battle wounds in form of itching mosquito bites (think 50 – 100 bites…)
More pictures from our fellow hikers:
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- The first day we hike in fog and mist from Mowich Lake to Carbon River camp. Here I assist the ranger in removing windfall debris en route to Carbon River camp, close to Cataract Camp
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- Marjan balancing over the large logs blocking our trail.
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- After hiking more than 8miles to Carbon River, we get a “foot wash” in glacier-ice-cold river water, fording to our night camp just across the river.
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- Marjan wading through knee-deep water, the cold water numbs legs after only few steps.
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- Starting our second day: Crossing over the suspension bridge spanning the Carbon River.
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- The suspension bridge is not for the faint of heart: it bounces, it’s narrow and the glacier water below is gushing
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- On the second day, we catch a first glimps of Mt Rainier. The black ice mass is aptly named Carbon Glacier
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- Marjan taking a rest on our hike along a steep and narrow trail along Carbon Glacier
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- Mary has a steady pace up the steep trail. She has always time to admire the flora along the trail and amazingly knows all plants by name!
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- Steph, James and Marjan taking a breather right below Dick Creek camp.
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- Bethany carefully balancing along the log bridge over Dick Creek
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- Mary and David taking a peek across Moraine Park to the majestic Mt Rainier
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- At the end of Moraine park, we surprise a family of marmots.
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- Enjoying the evening view over Mystic Lake.
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- Bethany, Marjan and Mary venturing down the crumbly sides of the West Fork of Winthrop creek.
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- Mary resting along the lateral moraine of Winthrop glacier
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- A slacker taking a break
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- Bethany along Winthrop glacier moraine.
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- Above our last camp, Granite Creek Camp, we enjoyed a most beautiful sunset and marvelous star gazing in a clear night sky.
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- Marjan embraces the gorgeous scenery on Skyscraper pass.
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- This is MY mountain!
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- Marjan and David enjoying a last breakfast on Skyscraper pass. Hard to pose calmly for a picture while the mosquitos were feasting on us.
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- Getting close to Sunrise, here the trail up to the Burroughs
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- A last look to Mt Rainier from along Sourdough ridge.
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- We made it! Looking back to Mt Rainier, with the rustic Sunrise visitor center in front
Stats:
| Distance: | 27mi / 43.2km total distance |
| Elevation gain: | 7000ft / 2100m |
| High point: | 6700ft / 2010m |
Hikers:
Marjan, David
Bethany, Mary, James, Steph
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