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. I was under the impression that I wouldnt, but you do need a reservation for each site according to the ranger that helped me. However, I didnt feel any force from the water and it was actually a relatively easy crossing. Eager to make progress on this shorter day (I really really wanted to get into camp early and take a nap! From here, we had about 11 miles and 3400 feet of gain to get to our next major landmark: Klapatche Park. This section ascends just under 2000 feet over 3ish miles, and it becomes another one of those breathtakingly beautiful places along the Wonderland Trail. Favourite model of the Cascadias since the 9th edition was released in 2014. They drove us to Longmire and we took all the obligatory group photos, and then we were off. Sarah noted that we were like Beyonce until she came along, and now we were just what was left of Destinys Child. Difficulty: Strenuous. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. These include the Nisqually, Puyallup, Mowich, Carbon, West Fork, Huckleberry, White, Ohanapecosh, and Muddy Fork rivers. You can watch summit climbers find their way up the Emmons Glacier, or watch the sunrise from the insta-popular Mt Fremont Lookout. Cheers, Legal travel provider on the territory of United States (California Seller of Travel License # 2112795-40) since 2013. Ive owned the same model R1 Hoody since 2009. 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. Our first landmark, at 5.5 miles and 2500 feet, was Devils Dream. One of the park's most popular day hikes is the 11.8-mile out-and-back trip to Panhandle Gap from the Fryingpan Creek trailhead (and its precious few parking spaces) on White River Road. Ive been wearing this cap since 2003. This news definitely affected our outlooks. not too high)/ Current version is a few ounces heavier (not including Sitlight pad). This northerly section is often done as the Northern Loop Trail, taking alternate routes from the Wonderland Trail to make a round trip path. Yes! Marmots.. Thanks for sharing.on my bucket list for sure.. When to go: July-September. However, my legs were barking at the end of day 1 due to lack of downhill training. We finally hit the descent to Nickels Creek, and moaned about our feet as we worked our way downhill. At Box Canyon, we marveled at all the people and cars and used flush toilets and washed our hands with soap and water. 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. The longer days meant I spent most of my trail time sans headlamp, putting in 14-15 hour days. Wonderland Trail Backpacking Guide Treeline Review We test. Unless youre an elite ultrarunner, youll need to dedicate at least a few days to cover the Wonderland Trail. . Good places to do this are at Mowich and Sunrise. Length: 93 miles Elevation gain/ loss: 22,000 ft (23,000 ft with the Spray Park Alternate) Time to complete: 9-12 days (we completed in 6.5, some people do it in 3 days!) My right IT band was tight and my knee hated every step. That means averaging 30=plus miles and 9,000 feet of elevation gain per day. Stage: 93 Miles, 3-Day . 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+ Cabin tucked into the woods beside the meadow. 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 Allow 10 to 14 days to hike the entire trail, depending on your daily average. There are three main trailhead options that have both camping and parking. Safarika Adventure Club (Safarika Travel Inc.) was founded in Los Angeles (CA) in the year 2013. Tasmania, Scotland, New Zealand) / Not too thick/not too thin, warmer than synthetic equivalents when damp. 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. If youre experienced, in good shape, and carrying a lightweight pack, this is not as difficult as many would believe, due to the fact that the trails three frontcountry campgrounds are fairly evenly spaced around the circuit. Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. Wei. Planning a One-Way Hike? There, Elly was waiting to accompany us the final 5 miles back to Longmire. You guys are all the BEST! 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. Which is kind of how you pace yourself. The autumnal colours were just beginning to emerge. As it ended up, both forks of the river are safely bridged now and it was an easy crossing. After the Winthrop, you traverse gently up and down to Granite Creek and then ascend several hundred feet through forest. Happy Hiking! Continue on to the campsite at Golden Lakes. Otherwise I had no physical problems. Extra Socks Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew. Mike encouraged me to make the call the next morning, and see how I felt after a nights sleep. 2. 3. The Wonderland Trail quickly became popular with hikers. Thanks for the tips and pictures. I walked the rest of the way to Sunrise, trailing behind the group. Another downside: trail maintenance on the west side of the mountain was lacking. Hiking the Wonderland Trail around Mt. In the hour we waited, the work crew put in place two vertical wood bars and a thin nylon rope. Given its hydrological preeminence, its no surprise that one of the regions native tribes, the Puyallup people, refer to the mountain as, Interested in a celebratory meal after completing the Wonderland Trail? Simply put, the Wonderland Trail should be on every backpacker's bucket list. . On the north side, access by car is more sparse: In the northwest corner, the trail is best accessed by Mowich Lake by the Carbon River Entrance. 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 definitely recommend this trail to anyone! Recent upgrade over my old Samsung Galaxy S7. Deserts, jungles, mountains or coast; Ive never had a preference. Eunice Lake below is teeming with wildflowers. 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. I was totally demoralized by this uphill-downhill which noodles along a ridge and provides way too many false summits. 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. Featuring picturesque scenery and an attractive quiet vibe, the Constellation loop is a good choice for completely escaping the city congestion. However, after tracking with GPS and Strava for a few years, the numbers for myself (and others reported on line) consistently come in higher. Two books I recommend are Hiking the Wonderland Trail: The Complete Guide to Mount Rainier's Premier Trailby Tami Asars (2012) and Discovering the Wonders of the Wonderland Trail: Encircling Mount Rainier by Bette Filley (2006 edition). For this I am thankful and look forward to next years Wonderland Trail Hike #34, whatever form that may take. After that bottle of water at 5 a.m., I decided to give the last leg of the trip a try. Twenty miles into the day the Wonderland Trail crosses pavement at Box Canyon. At Treeline, we want you to buy right the first time. A bit ironic, but my favorite part was the Spray Park detour. 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. 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. It can be completed in 7-10 days. It is a stunningly beautiful trail that oscillates between deep, volcanic valleys, dense forests of old growth trees and high alpine parks and ridges. The Wonderland Trail measures in somewhere around 93 miles. Situated between the Carbon Glacier and Winthrop Glacier, Mystic Lake is a little fertile oasis nestled amongst trees. 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. 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. When Hikers Die, Why Are We So Quick to Judge. Ill be hiking the Wonderland Trail in September. Following the lottery, the remaining campsites open for reservations in late April. Rainier, Wanders through forests and meadows, crosses streams and rivers, passes by lakes and glaciers, and climbs and drops and climbs and drops through continuously breathtaking terrain, Sunday, July 29: Drive to Mt. There are no words. Ive had this quilt since the beginning of 2012 and its still going strong after more than 15,000 km (9,321 mi). 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. Youre in for a treat as you head towards Sunrise (the Northeast Entrance of the park) with views that are, literally, other-worldly. Mowich Lake. Lastly, a long descent to the South Mowich River takes you to the final ascent to Mowich Lake. I love how luxuries and civilization are a shock after just a couple of days on the trail. There was no way I was going to be able to continue the next day. 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. Id been hearing great things about it for the previous year or two, and decided to give it a try. On the north side, access by car is more sparse: In the northwest corner, the trail is best accessed by Mowich Lake by the Carbon River Entrance. 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. So, I got my book in the other day, Discovering the Wonders of the Wonderland Trail by Bette Filley and it has gotten my wheels turning. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2021 still feels a bit unchartered, as we wait to see what events can happen and where we can go. Most of my past Wonderland hikes have been in the fall, so this circuit in July provided some significant contrasts. Hood on the Timberline Trail - Will Run for Whisky, Timberline Trail in a Day: Flowers, and rivers, and sand, oh my! Its got a large variety of scenery, from wide-open river beds created by the melting glaciers to fields of wildflowers to the vast, outer space-like ambiance of monochrome ash formed by an andesitic lava flow. The Wonderland Circumnavigation is three days of unbelievable trail running, delicious meals and "glamp" style accommodations on the shoulders of Tahoma (Mt. However, your overnighting options will be limited to the aforementioned, namely Mowich Lake, White River, and Cougar Rock. Your email address will not be published. (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 . Irrespective of when you hit the trail, come prepared for wet and cold conditions. Its about 8 miles, with 1500 feet gain and 2100 loss, to Golden Lakes, our next major landmark. Enter your email address to subscribe to The Hiking Life and receive notifications of new posts to your inbox. The Wonderland Gambit is a trilogy by Jack Chalker. They were some of the longest, most demoralizing miles of my life. At camp Wendy and I conferred. We then headed off toward our last climb of the trip. DAYS OUT IN DORSET Joy Parsons 1981 1st PB illust. 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. With the rivers running higher as the day progressed, this posed a problem for people crossing the river later in the day. Required fields are marked *. 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. Categories100 Classic Multi-Day Hikes, Gear Lists, Quick and Dirty Guides, The Hiking Life Blog, United StatesTagsBackpacking, Brooks Running, Gossamer Gear, Hiking, Katabatic Gear, Liz "Snorkel" Thomas, Liz Thomas, Longmire, Montbell, Mount Rainier, Mount Rainier National Park, Quick and Dirty Guides, REI, Seattle, Tarptent, Thru-hiking, Trekking, ultralight backpacking, Wonderland Trail. I talked to Wendy, who was limping through camp in her flip-flops, and I felt terribly for her. With our tents and sleeping bags waiting for us, we changed out some gear in our packs and fell into bed. 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. 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. River, and now we were just what was left of Destinys.. Mike encouraged me to make progress on this shorter day ( I really really wanted to get to the. The beginning of 2012 and its still going strong after more than km! Several hundred feet through forest elite ultrarunner, youll need to dedicate at least a few ounces heavier ( including! Years Wonderland Trail crosses pavement at Box Canyon Huckleberry, White, Ohanapecosh, and Muddy Fork rivers relatively... 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