Indian Summer in Wonderland (2022)

PanShiBo

Two of us curcumnavigated the tallest mountain in Washingtom State, Mount Rainier during Indian Summer of 2022.

An Indian summer is a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in autumn

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_summer

The Wonderland Trail is an approximately 150 km hiking trail that circumnavigates Mount Rainier in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, United States. The trail goes over many ridges of Mount Rainier for a cumulative 6,700 m of elevation gain. The trail was built in 1915. An estimated 200 to 250 people a year complete the entire trail with several thousand others doing shorter sections of it. The average time taken to complete the entire trip is 10 to 14 days.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderland_Trail

PanShiBo

The Wonderland Trail had never been on our bucket list. But the fact is that despite it was already October, when our local mountains often receive the first layer of snow, the weather was still warm and sunny with no end in long-term forecast. It would be a pity not to use such conditions, we thought , so one day Vera texted me at 3:25 a.m. : "...https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/washington/the-wonderland-trail?u=m  我们明天去这个吧？" I replied "could be a good project.." So we set to go.

Vera's suggested itinerary looked ambitious at first, but it turned out to be perfect: not too extreme, not too easy. Mileage in miles.


Our track of the trip with 6 camps.

PanShiBo

Day 1/7 (October 14)
Getting backpacking permit was super easy - after arriving at Longmire, we just walked in ranger's office, paid $6 USD, reserved all our six campsites and were loaned two bear canisters, for free.


Our gear total weight was ~75lb


On the trail, 150km to go


The trail is well marked all the way


Passing Indian Henry's Patrol Cabin. South-west of Mount Rainier at the back.


That silver line across the photo is actually the suspension bridge across Tahoma Creek. Impressive.






Emerald Ridge. Alpenglow on Mount Rainier.


Sunset at Emerald Ridge



One more shot of Rainier from Emerald Ridge


Our first camp was empty. We spent some time finding drinking water - many creeks were dry and we didn't dare to approach the rushing South Puyallup River (but we tried).


STATS for the Day 1
Longmire - South Puyallup River Camp
Distance 20.5 km
Total Time 7 hrs 43 min
Moving Speed 3.1 km/h

PanShiBo

South Puyallup River Camp - Golden Lakes Camp

Our camp 1



130km to go




Passing Saint Andrews Lake





West Face of Liberty Cap




Blue sky with zero clouds.


Patrol station at Golden Lakes, like all the others along the trail was locked and empty.


Arrriving at our Camp 2 at Golden Lakes




Golden Lakes seen from our camp


STATS
Distance 18.0 km
Total Time 7 hrs 54 min
Moving Speed 3.1 km/h



To be continued..

PanShiBo

Day 3/7 Oct-16
Golden Lakes Camp - Ipsut Creek Campground

112km to go


We stop for a short break every 40 minutes


No views on this stretch, which is good to be not distracted and linger for taking the photos: the stretch is the longest (26.6km)


One of many crossing.


牛肝菌


Cauliflower mushroom



Passing by Mowich Lake


Ipsut pass



Arriving at Camp 3. Empty and quiet.


Not sure what these are


Even got the picnic table



STATS

Moving Speed 3.5 kph

PanShiBo

Ipsut Creek Camp - Granite Creek Camp

Our camp at Ipsut Creek


85km to go


Getting glacier water from Ipsut Creek






Regular short break


We like these signs


North face of Rainier as seen from Carbon River



Carbon River








Suspension bridge to Carbon River camp




Carbon Glacier












Passing Mystic Lake




Our Camp 4 at Granite Creek





STATS
Moving Speed 2.9 kph

PanShiBo

Granite Creek Camp - Camp Summerland
64km to go  


The most scenic section begins


Blue sky, no clouds 5th day in a row.


Emmons Glacier that we climbed back in 2014 ( https://www.crossna.org/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=23737 )












Disappointment Cleaver




The Emmons route begins right after Camp Schurrman which is situated just behind the hill in the centre.


Alternating open-sun areas with shady forest is very welcome


Another regular break



Our camp 5 at Summerland had only one neighbour


Dinner getting ready


STATS
Moving Speed 3.3 kph


to be continued..

lulululu

Thanks for sharing, what was for te dinner? looks good.

Dinner getting ready

PanShiBo

Thanks for sharing, what was for te dinner? looks good.

Instant rice + butter + salt + dry bacon, we have stopped using Mountain House long ago, as these are as good if not better.

PanShiBo

Camp Summerland - Nickel Creek camp
40km to go  

Sunrise at Summerland



STATS
Moving Speed 3.1 kph


..to be continued..

PanShiBo

Summerland - Panhandle Gap












Panhandle Gap is the highest point on Wonderland Trail



Mount Adams as seen from Panhandle Gap


California Climbers' Salute at Panhandle Gap, the highest point of Wonderland Trail


.. to be continued..

PanShiBo

Selfie at Panhandle Gap

















Indian Bar




Upper part of standard route and Disapointment Clever are seen right in the middle.








Break time

PanShiBo

Selfie at Panhandle Gap

















Indian Bar




Upper part of standard route and Disapointment Cleaver are seen right in the middle. Little Tahoma on right.








Break time

PanShiBo

Our last camp at Nickel Creek was empty

PanShiBo

STATS
Moving Speed 3.6 kph



At our last camp at Nickel Creek, 23 km left to go

PanShiBo

Basic toilet. Better than nothing.


Cauliflower mushroom


Crossing empty road at Box Canyon






"..On a journey, first half one thinks of departure, second half of arrival..."










After six days of clear skies, the first sign of the bad weather system - lenticular clouds on Rainier indicate summit's high winds and whiteout






First trail sign with Longmire mileage: only 12.0km left to go!


to bo continued..

PanShiBo

Once we left Longmire, it started raining, the next day it turned into snow which didn't stop for the next three days. The brilliant Indian Summer 2022 was over.

PHOTO: webcam shot at Paradise Vistitors Centre Oct-25



To be continued..

vera

Full trip report (20,666 characters) here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JfJXEL71HjjJVgBqgJUqMn93N8sDwB8pCjIuE1Ye08o/edit?usp=sharing