Skip to main content

Day 121 - Mount Rainier Summerland

Sunrise and Summerland were the destinations for day 2 at Rainier. Sunrise is a high valley on the northeast side of the mountain. Before heading up the sunrise road I made a detour to Chinook Pass, famous for being a pass on the Pacific Crest Trail and for its nearby lake views of Rainier. 

I drove along the road in hopes of finding elusive cell phone coverage and magically found coverage on most of the sunrise road. I drove up the long, winding road to its top and hiked out to an overlook of the Emmons Glacier, the largest glacier in the lower 48 states. 

I then returned down the road to the Summerland trailhead and made some phone calls to friends and my father to talk logistics of two separate future trips next month. I set out for Summerland at 545pm. The first three miles were boring, heading up through the woods; I contemplated turning back. Then I reached an opening and saw what the fuss was all about-- why this hike was so popular. 

The mystic view of Rainier and the craggy Little Tahoma peak glowed in the late afternoon light. I considered waiting for sunset at this spot but instead continued up a very steep hillside to the Summerland campground. The view of Rainier and Little Tahoma was even better from here-all views get better as you get higher. I hiked past the campground to a rocky hill on the far side. It was 1.5 miles and 900 ft up to Panhandle Gap, another destination on my list, but it was now 7:45pm. 

I decided to go for it:)  I was so close and I wanted to see the view across the pass--what was on the other side? So I hiked up, through moon-like volcanic landscapes surrounded by glaciers and ever-changing glorious Mount Rainier views. I reached the Gap and looked out to the other valley: Wow wow wow wow was all I could say. Wow wow wow.  Like the hills of Tuscany but with a volcano (Mount Adams) in the background. 

I turned back at 830pm and took this celebratory photo, perhaps my favorite portrait so far, in front of a magical Rainier sunset. I hiked the final hour in total darkness with a dim headlight to light the path. I now agree with the many others: Rainier is a spiritual experience!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 57 - Rocky Mountain National Park

Ever since I decided to go west for my big trip, I had dreamed of high mountain lakes with snowy peaks arching in every direction, with chilly air making every moment crisp, and with clear skies bringing all into perfect focus-- pure bliss.  Today was the first of many great mountain lake days to come.  Hiking here was far easier here than in the San Juans because the snow was packed down on the trail, but I brought my mini crampons for the downhill. I made it safely past a narrow ridge with narly black peaks across the gorge (pic 1), then up to Mills Lake (pic 2) then Jewel Lake then the Loch (pic 3) then down before the afternoon rain started falling.  I hiked around some lower, more accessible lakes but the sky was now overcast and pictures no good.  I drove up the open portion of the Ridge road amid a very light dusting of snow before heading back to camp for dinner and bedtime. I did manage to capture some fine Elk grazing in a meadows on the return trip and a g...
3 comments
Read more

Day 54 - Great Sand Dunes

I awoke to clear skies, a dry mattress and pillows, a second hot shower and a waffle-filled motel breakfast. I decided to head east to Great Sand Dunes National Park in order to climb 700 foot sand dunes surrounded by snow-covered alpine mountains--a rare site.  Just about every road in Colorado goes over a pretty high mountain pass eventually, and this three and a half hour journey didn't disappoint.  And Great Sand Dunes didn't disappoint either. After securing a dune-side campsite and waiting out a rainstorm, I set out to climb the dunes for a sunset view. Great Sand Dunes is also famous for its Medano Creek wave-like flow and ankle-deep water, making it popular with young kids. I hiked through it and started climbing the dunes, first to a high dune on the east side and over to the next highest dune and then the next highest et until I got to the highest one-/ properly called High Dune. I sat down, setup my phone to capture a time-lapse of the beautiful sunset my eyes were ...
1 comment
Read more

Day 62 - Colorado National Monument

Established as a national monument early in 1911, Colorado NM is known for its high canyon "rim road" and sandstone spires of Monument Canyon.  The canyons of west Colorado are pretty--as they have more green trees and shrubs than the more famous Utah canyons. This gives them a more alive feeling, although the sandstone spires were formed many thousands of years ago by erosion.  Rim Rock road curves up the the top of the canyon cliff, goes through several round tunnels and is lined with scenic viewpoints. The best views were in he Monument Canyon section, and included in sequence, the Coke Ovens, The Kissing Couple (behind my head), and the most famous of all: Independence Monument, the tall spire in pic 3 and viewed from the side in pic 4.  The original promoter and caretaker of the park, John Otto, was the first person to climb Independence Monument and now it's a climbing right of passage. Every July 4 climbers ascend and mount an American flag at the summit. Fun! ...
2 comments
Read more