Forum Index > Trip Reports > Mowich & Eunice Lakes and Tolmie Lookout 10/11/2010
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tigermn
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tigermn
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PostTue Oct 12, 2010 9:12 pm 
Decided to head over to Mowich over in Rainier not exactly sure what weather to expect but it was insanely good for this time of year.
Tolmie/Eunice Lake area trail map.
Tolmie/Eunice Lake area trail map.
Arrived and it was looking to be a clear day. Snow dusting on some of the higher areas. There was actually some snow/ice on the ground in places at the lake.
Mowich Lake parking lot.
Mowich Lake parking lot.
Dusting of white stuff on higher hills from Mowich Lake.
Dusting of white stuff on higher hills from Mowich Lake.
Fay peak in light white from Mowich Lake.
Fay peak in light white from Mowich Lake.
I headed up the trail from the campground as I wanted the full effect of the lake.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Views above Mowich Lake.
Views above Mowich Lake.
Still some fall colors around as well as I made my way along the lake.
Fall colors at Mowich Lake.
Fall colors at Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Soon enough I was at Ipsut Pass and the junction.
View from Ipsut Pass.
View from Ipsut Pass.
At the fork the trail descends to traverse under some cliff bands before climbing up to Eunice Lake.
Cliffs to traverse under on way to Eunice Lake.
Cliffs to traverse under on way to Eunice Lake.
Cliffs to traverse under on way to Eunice Lake.
Cliffs to traverse under on way to Eunice Lake.
Nearing Eunice Lake.
Nearing Eunice Lake.
Tolmie lookout from near Eunice Lake.
Tolmie lookout from near Eunice Lake.
First view of Eunice Lake.
First view of Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake is a scenic lake that sits below Tolmie peak.
Fall near Eunice Lake.
Fall near Eunice Lake.
Tolmie Peak.
Tolmie Peak.
Frost on plants near Eunice Lake.
Frost on plants near Eunice Lake.
Fall near Eunice Lake.
Fall near Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Tolmie Lookout zoom from Eunice Lake
Tolmie Lookout zoom from Eunice Lake
Fall at Eunice Lake.
Fall at Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
There was some ice in shaded spots, but the temps while cool were pleasant with a couple of light layers on. I made my way past the lake and started up the few switchbacks to the lookout.
Trail to Tolmie lookout.
Trail to Tolmie lookout.
Eunice Lake on trail to Tolmie lookout.
Eunice Lake on trail to Tolmie lookout.
Rainier from trail to Tolmie peak.
Rainier from trail to Tolmie peak.
Trail to Tolmie lookout.
Trail to Tolmie lookout.
Rainier from trail to Tolmie peak.
Rainier from trail to Tolmie peak.
Trail to Tolmie lookout.
Trail to Tolmie lookout.
It is a pretty short jaunt from the lake to the lookout. Before I knew it I arrived. A bit cool and there was ice on the stairs to the lookout.
Final push to Tolmie lookout.
Final push to Tolmie lookout.
Tolmie lookout.
Tolmie lookout.
Tolmie lookout with ice on the stairs.
Tolmie lookout with ice on the stairs.
Warning on Tolmie lookout.
Warning on Tolmie lookout.
I climbed up and walked around taking various pictures. In places it was dripping as the ice melted off of the lookout.
Views from Tolmie lookout.
Views from Tolmie lookout.
Views from Tolmie lookout.
Views from Tolmie lookout.
Pano 1 from Tolmie lookout.
Pano 1 from Tolmie lookout.
Pano 2 from Tolmie lookout.
Pano 2 from Tolmie lookout.
Pano 3 from Tolmie lookout.
Pano 3 from Tolmie lookout.
Eunice Lake from Tolmie lookout.
Eunice Lake from Tolmie lookout.
Rainier from Tolmie lookout.
Rainier from Tolmie lookout.
Edge of Mowich Lake from Tolmie lookout.
Edge of Mowich Lake from Tolmie lookout.
Mowich campground from Tolmie lookout.
Mowich campground from Tolmie lookout.
Tolmie ridge from lookout.
Tolmie ridge from lookout.
An attempt at a walking pano video from the lookout.
It was a glorious day up there. Cool enough I added a down vest and hat as I sat and ate lunch. While the light wasn't the best for Rainier we got what we got.
Rainier from Tolmie lookout.
Rainier from Tolmie lookout.
Zoom of Rainier from Tolmie.
Zoom of Rainier from Tolmie.
Zoom of Rainier glaciers from Tolmie.
Zoom of Rainier glaciers from Tolmie.
A lake picture or two before heading down.
Eunice Lake from Tolmie.
Eunice Lake from Tolmie.
Tolmie lookout.
Tolmie lookout.
Rainier from Tolmie.
Rainier from Tolmie.
I started down and headed over to another spot to see if any more interesting views. Nothing earth shattering but not bad.
View from knoll just below Tolmie lookout.
View from knoll just below Tolmie lookout.
View from knoll just below Tolmie lookout.
View from knoll just below Tolmie lookout.
View from knoll just below Tolmie lookout.
View from knoll just below Tolmie lookout.
View from knoll just below Tolmie lookout.
View from knoll just below Tolmie lookout.
Pano from knoll just below Tolmie lookout.
Pano from knoll just below Tolmie lookout.
Back on the main trail A few more lake/mountain shots from the open areas on the switchbacks.
Eunice Lake on way down from Tolmie.
Eunice Lake on way down from Tolmie.
Rainier from below Tolmie.
Rainier from below Tolmie.
Eunice Lake descending from Tolmie.
Eunice Lake descending from Tolmie.
Trail switchbacking down Tolmie.
Trail switchbacking down Tolmie.
I got back down by the lake and decided to take a trail spur that went closer to the lake.
Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Meadows near Eunice Lake.
Meadows near Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Eunice Lake.
Just below the lake there is a small waterfall which is easily accessed by taking an unmarked short semi-trail.
Falls below Eunice Lake.
Falls below Eunice Lake.
Falls below Eunice Lake.
Falls below Eunice Lake.
In short order I was back at the junction and back over by Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake looking towards Knapsack Pass.
Mowich Lake looking towards Knapsack Pass.
Knapsack pass in some dusting.
Knapsack pass in some dusting.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
Mowich Lake.
What a super fall day to be in the park. Despite fog and clouds that may have been in other areas, it was spectacular here. When I was up at the lookout since I could see the campground I walked over to find where I could see the lookout. Sure enough on the far side.
Back at Mowich Lake campground.
Back at Mowich Lake campground.
Tolmie lookout from Mowich Lake campground.
Tolmie lookout from Mowich Lake campground.
A couple of nice shots of Rainier along the road on the way out to top if off.
Rainier from viewspot about a mile outside park on Mowich road.
Rainier from viewspot about a mile outside park on Mowich road.
Rainier shortly up Mowich Lake road.
Rainier shortly up Mowich Lake road.

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Magellan
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Magellan
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PostTue Oct 12, 2010 9:16 pm 
Great day for it. up.gif I gotta get to that lookout.

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fourteen410
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fourteen410
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PostTue Oct 12, 2010 11:42 pm 
so that's what rainier and mowich lake look like! tongue.gif I've only been there on foggy, socked in days. looks like a great day for this trip.

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Dr. Greenthumb
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Joined: 22 Oct 2009
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Dr. Greenthumb
blaze it up
PostWed Oct 13, 2010 9:11 am 
spectacular trip! What did you mean when you mentioned that the light wasnt great for images of MT. Rainer? What kind of light were you looking for?or, what type of light is the best, so I know what to look for. THank you peace.gif

Ive got the prescription to get you higher
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tigermn
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tigermn
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PostThu Oct 14, 2010 7:07 am 
By lighting I meant the sun was right over Rainier so you are looking right into it. I always thought it just looked better when the sun was behind you with the target in front. Sometimes the sun is too bright and the pictures don't come out so good. Yea that's a pretty easy hike from the parking lot. You can even shorten 1/2 a mile off by parking up the road and accessing the trail from there. I like the walk around the lake though. The lookout is just a part of this trip. The lakes are just as pretty as the views from the lookout. A lot of bang for the buck on this 3 1/2 mileish trek. One thing I noticed is that the trail marked on like NW trails maps or even the USGS topo maps (pack trail) from the junction isn't correct. It appears they rerouted it below the cliffs. The trail on the maps appears to stay high. You actually descend a few hundred feet from the junction at Ipsut before climbing up to Eunice Lake.

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shadetree
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shadetree
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PostThu Oct 14, 2010 7:17 am 
Was the campground open? I was thinking about heading up there for acouple of days next weekend for a couple of days. Thanks.

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Hikingqueen
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Hikingqueen
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PostThu Oct 14, 2010 7:52 am 
Thanks for the update!

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tigermn
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tigermn
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PostThu Oct 14, 2010 6:04 pm 
I didn't see anybody camping but I didn't see anything saying it was closed. I don't know how they close it. I didn't see any rangers or anything up there around. I did see a group hauling a small rowboat down to the lake from the parking lot though. Thought that was interesting. I guess non motorized boats are legal on most of the lakes in the park (the sign listed a few exceptions like Frozen and Reflection lakes but not many).

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shadetree
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shadetree
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PostThu Oct 14, 2010 8:55 pm 
I did see a group hauling a small rowboat down to the lake from the parking lot though. Thought that was interesting. I guess non motorized boats are legal on most of the lakes in the park (the sign listed a few exceptions like Frozen and Reflection lakes but not many).[/quote] That is correct. I don't remember wich lakes were excluded but it was only a few. The rest all allow non motorized boats and float tubes.

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tigermn
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tigermn
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PostFri Oct 15, 2010 7:16 am 
Map added. Kind of interesting that the trail shown on this and even maps like NW topo or trails shows the trail as the "Pack" trail on here. They apparently rerouted it below the cliff bands which means you have to descend a little going out.
Tolmie/Eunice Lake area trail map.
Tolmie/Eunice Lake area trail map.

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