There is a part of me that feels a certain sense of accomplishment when you cover a lot of miles with a lot of vertical gain, and that’s a common element of most days on the trail. This was not one of those days. This day was a reminder that I was where I longed […]
Wonderland Trail Day 7: Dick Creek to Mystic Lake
Day Seven on the Wonderland Trail began wet. It rained hard during the night, giving us the true Pacific Northwest experience. Our tents were not going to dry out before we started hiking, so they went on the outside of the pack. Thankfully the rain had stopped, but we were shrouded in a mystical fog […]
Wonderland Trail Day 6: Eagle’s Roost to Dick Creek
On Day 6 of our Wonderland Trail trek, we continued our hike on the more scenic alternate route through Spray Park. Spray Park is 0.7 miles shorter than the actual Wonderland Trail over Ipsut Pass, but it climbs higher on the slopes of Mount Rainier and is generally considered more scenic, rising above the timberline […]
Wonderland Trail Day 5: South Mowich River to Eagle’s Roost
Our fifth day on the Wonderland Trail meant our first resupply at Mowich Lake! With nearly 3,000 feet of climbing, this was Leg Day. Well, pretty much every day on the Wonderland Trail is leg day, but this was mostly up, up and more up. That’s what you do on a thru-hike. Sleep, eat, hike […]
Wonderland Trail Day 4: Golden Lakes to South Mowich River
Day 4 on the Wonderland Trail was misty and damp. We woke up with our tents wet from the moisture in the air. The hot sun from yesterday’s hike was nowhere to be found. The foggy morning did add an eery beauty to Golden Lakes as we filtered water for the day’s seven mile trek. […]
Wonderland Trail Day 3: North Puyallup River to Golden Lakes
After a long, tough second day on the Wonderland Trail, this day would feel like a walk in the park. A six mile, uphill walk in the park, but with only one steady climb. We’d be hiking half the distance and climbing half the vertical gain of the previous day. The trail begins heading west […]
Hiking to Colchuck Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Colchuck Lake is truly a gem of a day hike. It is the bigger brother to the nearby Enchantment Lakes, much easier to reach (as a day hike, especially), and some have described it as a religious experience. The glacier-fed waters of Colchuck Lake are an ethereal aquamarine blue. The jagged peaks and passes surrounding the […]
Hiking Granite Mountain in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Granite Mountain is said to offer great views, but at a price. The trail climbs nearly 1,000 vertical feet per mile. It’s steep, with only a few gentler slopes to catch your breath on. Access is straightforward, with the trail beginning off I-90 and less than an hour east of Seattle. Time your trip right […]
