[John Morrow]

I mention this trip because it is such a casual camping and hiking experience in such a beautiful place. Even though the Sunrise Backcountry Camp is just a short easy mile from the parking lot, it sure is cheap lodging to base a couple of shameless peakbagging day hikes out of. To experience such amazing subalpine and alpine, it doesn't get much easier! After setting up camp I made my way along the Burroughs Mountains to the Third B. and extended the day over at Skyscraper Mtn.

Starting up 1st Burroughs

Berkeley Park, Skyscraper and Sluiskins

Dwarf lupine and Lil' Tahoma

Skyscraper and Fremont

Mystic lake, The Mothers, and Old Desolate

Winthrop Glacier

Granite Park and 3rd Burroughs

Granite Park

Me on Skyscraper

Wonderland Trail, Mount Rainier National Park

Sun fade over Sunrise camp

Excited to view a sunset, I finished the day with a cup of tea at the Emmons Overlook, 5 minutes out of camp. At first light I was back up at the Emmons Overlook, this time with a cup of high strength Via instant coffee double, for the developing sunrise.

Sunrise over Sunrise

First Glow

Sunrise Point, Mount Rainier National Park IMG_4567

Ummm, Willis Wall splendor

After breakfast I headed over to Mt Fremont highpoint and the Mt. Fremont lookout for more subalpine frolicking. Then the funnest part of the day came ambling over to Forest Lake and up Mc Neeley Peak to finish with some final views and summit lounging. Being so close to Sunrise, and thousands of visitors, I treated the subalpine cross country trek like the crypto crusts of the desert SW, trying to walk on snow and skipping from rock to rock as much as possible. Some obvious goat path segments also helped me stay off the vegetation and flowers.

Headed to Frozen Lake

Upper Berkeley Park

Mt. Fremont L.O.

Purple mountains majesty

IMG_4617

Lake Forest Park

Huckleberry Creek Trail, Mount Rainier National Park

More of the same

On Mc Neeley from where I came

Time to go

I know, I know, not another Berkeley Park area TR, but I couldn't help myself. It is just too much fun to have the ease of National Park highway like trails, and paved roads to do the climbing for you!

[Jordan]

Lake Forest Park. Thats funny.