We arrived at camp around 9am only to find a full campground. We circle through all the camp loops with much dissappointment. Every last campsite was full. We eventually made a second pass through Loop D and saw a family tossing gear into a subaru. We stopped and asked if they were leaving and thankfully they were. I parked and got our spot paid for the night. It ended up being an awesome spot tucked into the trees away from other campers who were a bit rowdy. We set up camp and set off for Sunrise Lodge and a day of hiking.
We looked on the map and decided we would try getting to Mystic Lake. Thinking it was a little close than 21 miles round trip!
Here is a picture of Rainier from the Lodge on our way up the trail:
About 1 mile into the hike we stopped for a Marmot carrying it's baby in it's mouth. It walked within kicking distance of us on the trail as it meandered on carrying it's young. I didnt take a picture until after it went by, I wasnt sure if it was going to try running up my leg or just pass by...thankfully the latter.
About 2-3miles in we'd past the Burroughs Mtn trail and headed on the Wonderland Trail to our destination. This picture is looking back down the trail. The trail down the valley is to Berkeley Park, to the right at the base of the rocky "hill" is the Wonderland Trail and on the backside of the "hill" is the Burroughs Mtn trail.
Around the ridge on the Wonderland Trail at the base of Skyrscraper Peak.
Skyscraper Peak behind us.
About 2.5 miles further we passed through Granite Creek camp, a small backcountry camp for the adventuresome. Another 1-2 miles down we hear a crashing in the distance and see dust coming from a portion of the Winthrop Glacier that is now in front of us. From the sun melting the glacier, it was causing boulders to crash down the side and make a spectacular scene.
Winthrop Glacier below Mt Rainier
Glacier flow:
After following the trail downhill further we made it to the where we would eventually turn around as it was getting later in the day and we still had 8-9 miles to go back to the lodge. Garda Falls.
After eating a lunch of squished turkey and provolone "sammich", Snicker bar and an apple, washed down with luke warm water, it was time to head back. While we were eating lunch a couple younger boys walked by with large packs heading up the trail we came down. We eventually caught up with them and chatted with them a little. They looked tired and asked how far to Granite Creek CG (campground). I told them it was another 1-1.5 miles and it was steep all the way. I don't think it was a morale booster!
When we got within 2 miles of the lodge I looked on the hillside and saw a group of white rocks. they weren't rocks, they were goats! I have never seen such a large group of goats before, 20-30 at least! They were near the ridgeline and feeding their way over the top.
A lone deer grazing:
Once back at the truck we figured we hiked for 17 miles total, assuming we were 2 miles from the lake on a 21 mile roundtrip journey. It was time to head back to camp to rest our bones by the fire for the next mornings hike.
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