Forum Index > Trip Reports > The Grandeur of Grand Park, MRNP 07.11.10
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Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher



Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 2993 | TRs | Pics
Location: Margaritaville
Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher
PostMon Jul 12, 2010 9:57 pm 
Last wk. my friend BPLlama contacted me about going hiking on Sunday, so I hatched a plan for us to hit up Grand Park in Mt. Rainier Natl. Park. I had been there in July '08 but only got a view of fog huh.gif so was ready to give it another go, this time on a sunny day! cool.gif Also, I wanted to check out what it was like coming from the Lk. Eleanor side. The cast of characters incl. BPLlama, 2 of her friends/co-workers, raz2sea, MM, & yours truly of course. wink.gif They all met MM & I @ our house & then the 6 of us split into the 2 cars available with higher clearance. We drove out to Enumclaw to hwy. 410 & took that to FR 73. FR 73 has lots of potholes in the beginning but seemed to get better the further up we got. We parked @ a big switchback a few mi. in where there is a TH for Lk. Eleanor.
Akiko, bpllama, Andreia, MM, raz2sea
Akiko, bpllama, Andreia, MM, raz2sea
All smiles
All smiles
The trail to the lk. is a gentle climb through woods, hitting the forest boundary shortly after the trailhead. Sun filtered in through the trees & it was a very peaceful walk. In short order we reached Lk. Eleanor & took a quick break for pics.
Woodsy trail
Woodsy trail
Lk. Eleanor with Scarface behind
Lk. Eleanor with Scarface behind
raz2sea checks out the bear pole @ the lk.
raz2sea checks out the bear pole @ the lk.
Chillin' @ Lk. Eleanor camp
Chillin' @ Lk. Eleanor camp
Sunlit. coming thru the trees
Sunlit. coming thru the trees
From Lk. Eleanor the trail climbs a bit, rounds a ridge, & drops down to a nice green meadow. We caught a glimpse of Rainier & several frogs of varying sizes. wub.gif
1st opening with a glimpse of Rainier
1st opening with a glimpse of Rainier
Sm. pond
Sm. pond
Frog
Frog
Avalanche lilies
Avalanche lilies
Avalanche & glacier lilies
Avalanche & glacier lilies
We hit some snow patches but it was all pretty negotiable, esp. since there were lots of footsteps kicked into the snow already. After another little climb we reached the northern edge of GP. WOW - what a sight!! Now I saw what I missed 2 yrs. ago! eek.gif eek.gif slobber.gif slobber.gif We walked about halfway across & found a suitable log upon which to have lunch & admire The Mountain. up.gif My pics do no justice as to the true beauty of the place. raz2sea & MM surely got some better shots tho. up.gif
Field full of glacier lilies
Field full of glacier lilies
Mt. Rainier looms over Grand Park
Mt. Rainier looms over Grand Park
Heading into Grand Park
Heading into Grand Park
Zoom of Rainier poking over
Zoom of Rainier poking over
Rainier, zoomed
Rainier, zoomed
Rainier as seen from our lunch spot @ GP
Rainier as seen from our lunch spot @ GP
Lunch spot with a view
Lunch spot with a view
Rich & his camera
Rich & his camera
Mtns. to the east of Rainier
Mtns. to the east of Rainier
Peaks to our west
Peaks to our west
GP stretches on
GP stretches on
Rainier over GP
Rainier over GP
Rainier, zoomed
Rainier, zoomed
MM & raz2sea with their cameras
MM & raz2sea with their cameras
Climbers' path from Camp Sherman
Climbers' path from Camp Sherman
GP was the perfect hike: Short, easy, & a great view...w/hardly any people around to boot. What more could I ask for?? We lazed around in the sunshine for awhile admiring the views. We got the binocs out & spotted a couple climbing parties descending the mtn. on the very well-defined path above Camp Sherman. I'm glad they were doing all that work & not me. wink.gif moon.gif Eventually we decided it was time to go. On the way out, we heard some weird noises....whether it was trees rubbing against each other in the breeze or a "bear cub calling for its mother" was debatable. paranoid.gif Either way we didn't linger long.
Leaving GP
Leaving GP
Tiny pond
Tiny pond
Trees
Trees
Trees above
Trees above
Back in 'claw we reminisced over margaritas & quesadillas @ El Camino before heading back to town. souse.gif hungry.gif Thanks all for the great company on such a beautiful hike!! cool.gif up.gif

Home is where the hiking is. "Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
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raz2sea
Daddy RAZ



Joined: 04 Dec 2007
Posts: 1060 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
raz2sea
Daddy RAZ
PostTue Jul 13, 2010 1:18 am 
Fran pretty well summed it up but it was great to get out with some fellow NWHikers, as well as meet some new people. The sun was out, the temps were perfect and the breeze kept the mozzies at bay, but not the black flies. Here's my photographic contributions: Heading In
NPS Boundary
NPS Boundary
First look at Rainier from meadow near Lake Eleanor
First look at Rainier from meadow near Lake Eleanor
Off towards Grand Park we go
Off towards Grand Park we go
Grand Park
Grand Park Flower Show
Grand Park Flower Show
Little Tahoma zoomed in
Little Tahoma zoomed in
Fremont Lookout
Fremont Lookout
Our not-so-unexpected visitor arrives
Our not-so-unexpected visitor arrives
Our Lunch spot
Our Lunch spot
Hiker crossing Grand Park
Hiker crossing Grand Park
Group shot, with bad wind timing
Group shot, with bad wind timing
Heading back
Lake Eleanor
Lake Eleanor
Snags Ok, I really like the look of snags and since were in an old burn area there were lots to look at:
Detail of burned snag
Detail of burned snag
A whole clump of snags   ::)
A whole clump of snags smile.gif
A Final Though
I am insignificant next to nature
I am insignificant next to nature

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sarbar
Living The Dream



Joined: 28 Jan 2002
Posts: 8055 | TRs | Pics
Location: Freeland, Wa
sarbar
Living The Dream
PostTue Jul 13, 2010 8:39 am 
The back way is much, much better than coming down from Sunrise IMO up.gif I have done it both ways and loved coming up from the lake. Last year was a hoot when we went to re-do the hike - Hoosierdaddy's truck died on us most of the way up to the TH on that dumb road. He backed it all the way down to Huckleberry Creek - without power steering or power brakes, we walked out, met a group of SAR training cops who one towed us out to 410, got a ride in the cop's SUV to Greenwater....and then the best part was using my AAA membership to make the world's pissiest tow truck driver pick up the truck on the highway and drive it back to Kitsap Peninsula for free. Bawhahhah! I still laugh over that one. It was 100 miles exactly lol.gif So I'd say your hike went much better lol.gif

https://trailcooking.com/ Eat well on the trail.
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Hikingqueen
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Member


Joined: 12 Nov 2007
Posts: 2946 | TRs | Pics
Hikingqueen
Member
PostTue Jul 13, 2010 9:51 am 
You beat me there, great to know the lillies are out! Looks like a wonderful day! biggrin.gif

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marta
wildflower maven



Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 1761 | TRs | Pics
marta
wildflower maven
PostTue Jul 13, 2010 7:53 pm 
Looks like a great hike. Nice to see the meadows are snow free and starting to bloom.

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tigermn
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Joined: 10 Jul 2007
Posts: 9242 | TRs | Pics
Location: There...
tigermn
Member
PostTue Jul 13, 2010 7:59 pm 
Thanks for the update. This one is on my very near future to do list. Didn't get around to it last year. Didn't want to get up there in the snow.

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BPLlama
Member
Member


Joined: 07 Sep 2006
Posts: 69 | TRs | Pics
Location: シアトル
BPLlama
Member
PostWed Jul 14, 2010 1:26 pm 
Thanks for the nice hike! I am glad to be able to get outdoors and do a little hike to a beautiful scenery. Perfect mellow terrain to a big payoff, just what I needed! up.gif up.gif up.gif If the weather continues to be nice, let me know if you decide to do another hike about this caliber in the near future. I'd like to tag along again agree.gif There's tonnes of redundant pictures so I won't bore people by posting it all.
Mt. Fremont and yellow field
Mt. Fremont and yellow field
Fran and Jason
Fran and Jason
Beautiful gals with handsome Mt.
Beautiful gals with handsome Mt.
More pics at my Flickr site.

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tigermn
Member
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Joined: 10 Jul 2007
Posts: 9242 | TRs | Pics
Location: There...
tigermn
Member
PostWed Jul 14, 2010 1:32 pm 
I think I'll lug the tripod for this one. Based on photos taken it looks like some great photo ops. Of course a bluebird day helps too .

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MountainMan
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Joined: 15 Jul 2008
Posts: 365 | TRs | Pics
Location: San Diego
MountainMan
Member
PostWed Jul 14, 2010 5:34 pm 
So glad we had a clear day! up.gif The drive started off foggy, but then it cleared up just like the forecast said. cool.gif It was great hiking with everyone! Here are my pics or you can see them all on Flickr. On the way in:
Eleanor Creek sign and TH for Lake Eleanor.
Eleanor Creek sign and TH for Lake Eleanor.
Lake Eleanor
Lake Eleanor
Coming out of the woods at the north end of Grand Park.
Coming out of the woods at the north end of Grand Park.
Frog
Frog
Getting a pic of the liles.
Getting a pic of the liles.
Avalanche and Glacier Lilies.
Avalanche and Glacier Lilies.
Glacier Lilies in Grand Park with Fremont Lookout and Little Tahoma in the distance.
Glacier Lilies in Grand Park with Fremont Lookout and Little Tahoma in the distance.
Grand Park trail.
Grand Park trail.
Grand Park
Grand Park
BC and raz on the trail and BPLlama on right.
BC and raz on the trail and BPLlama on right.
Zooms:
Little Tahoma
Little Tahoma
Little Tahoma zoomed
Little Tahoma zoomed
Fremont Lookout
Fremont Lookout
Zoom of glacier.
Zoom of glacier.
Grand Park:
Grand Park
Grand Park
With Rich's filter
With Rich's filter
With Rich's filter
With Rich's filter
With out filter
With out filter
Pano:
Grand Park
Grand Park
Group shots:
Our lunch spot.
Our lunch spot.
Group Pic 1
Group Pic 1
Group Pic 2
Group Pic 2
On the way out:
Trail through Grand Park.
Trail through Grand Park.
Eleanor Creek
Eleanor Creek
raz2sea on the trail.
raz2sea on the trail.
raz2sea and BC at Lake Eleanor camp.
raz2sea and BC at Lake Eleanor camp.

Slow down, take notice, savor the moment, appreciate the world around you and everything that you have.
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Davidą
Token Canadian



Joined: 25 Jul 2002
Posts: 3040 | TRs | Pics
Location: The Great White North
Davidą
Token Canadian
PostWed Jul 14, 2010 7:56 pm 
How Grand! Looks like summer there smile.gif

Warning! Posts may contain traces of sarcasm. Hiking Website: http://members.shaw.ca/karenanddavid/Index.htm
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furthur
Berry Bagger



Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 341 | TRs | Pics
Location: onward and upward
furthur
Berry Bagger
PostWed Jul 14, 2010 10:03 pm 
Rainier is almost frightening--you're in that peaceful, bucolic setting, and there looms Monster Mountain. Impressive!

"You're either on the bus or off the bus." Kesey
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Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher



Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 2993 | TRs | Pics
Location: Margaritaville
Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher
PostWed Jul 14, 2010 10:56 pm 
What made it even scarier is that along the way up we heard this really low, deep rumbling noise. confused.gif Whenever I get that close to Rainier I'm hoping that it doesn't pick that particular day to erupt. But of course there's tons of sensors up there, so we're safe,.....right? paranoid.gif

Home is where the hiking is. "Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
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Bryan K
Shameless Peakbagger



Joined: 29 Sep 2005
Posts: 5129 | TRs | Pics
Location: Alaska
Bryan K
Shameless Peakbagger
PostThu Jul 15, 2010 12:17 am 
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