Forum Index > Trip Reports > Glacier Basin and beyond 08/23/2011
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tigermn
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tigermn
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PostWed Aug 24, 2011 9:13 pm 
Having never been to Glacier Basin I decided to check it out and the new trail.
Glacier Basin East 08/23/2011.
Glacier Basin East 08/23/2011.
Glacier Basin West 08/23/2011.
Glacier Basin West 08/23/2011.
Driving from Enumclaw, through Greenwater and all consisted of some pretty serious rain in spots. I was somewhat concerned this might not be the best day, but once I started getting towards Crystal I was mostly above the clouds. Turning off towards Sunrise, the sun was poking through and it looked clear higher up. I passed through the gate about 08:05AM and there was no one staffing it so it was a drive through. I had my Mt. Rainier pass all ready to show. lol.gif It's only about 5 miles or so to the White River Campground turnoff, the site of the Glacier Basin trail and a car camping area. After driving the loop and seeing the Glacier Basin trailhead, I returned to the day use parking area.
Glacier Basin day use parking/picnic area.
Glacier Basin day use parking/picnic area.
Walk a little ways through the campground to the actual trailhead.
Glacier Basin trailhead.
Glacier Basin trailhead.
Glacier Basin trailhead sign just after start of trail.
Glacier Basin trailhead sign just after start of trail.
From here the freeway trail starts and it is a nice one. You could practically take a wheel chair up this early portion if you didn't mind some elevation.
Going up the new freeway trail to Glacier Basin.
Going up the new freeway trail to Glacier Basin.
Going up the new freeway trail to Glacier Basin.
Going up the new freeway trail to Glacier Basin.
A few early views.
Little Tahoma from Glacier Basin trail.
Little Tahoma from Glacier Basin trail.
Early views from Glacier Basin trail.
Early views from Glacier Basin trail.
Early views from Glacier Basin trail.
Early views from Glacier Basin trail.
Waterfall off Glacier Basin trail.
Waterfall off Glacier Basin trail.
In about 1.2 miles from the car (1 mile from the trailhead), you arrive at the Emmons Moraine trail. I decided to take it now.
Glacier Basin/Emmons Moraine trail junction.
Glacier Basin/Emmons Moraine trail junction.
Starting up Emmons Moraine trail.
Starting up Emmons Moraine trail.
River crossing on Emmons Moraine trail.
River crossing on Emmons Moraine trail.
River crossing on Emmons Moraine trail.
River crossing on Emmons Moraine trail.
River crossing on Emmons Moraine trail.
River crossing on Emmons Moraine trail.
Narrow trail across river on Emmons Moraine trail.
Narrow trail across river on Emmons Moraine trail.
The trail winds around and soon you start to see the river below and the snout of the Emmons Glacier as well as a nice green tarn looking back.
Views from Emmons Moraine trail.
Views from Emmons Moraine trail.
Views from Emmons Moraine trail.
Views from Emmons Moraine trail.
Views from Emmons Moraine trail.
Views from Emmons Moraine trail.
Views from Emmons Moraine trail.
Views from Emmons Moraine trail.
Views from Emmons Moraine trail.
Views from Emmons Moraine trail.
After about a half mile the end of maintained trail sign is reached. Past here it does get brushy and somewhat hard to follow. I went a little beyond then turned around. It appeared to be heading away anyway but I suspect it doubled back.
Emmons Moraine end of maintained trail.
Emmons Moraine end of maintained trail.
Views beyond maintained trail.
Views beyond maintained trail.
I retraced and got some better views of the tarn on the way back.
Views from Emmons Moraine trail.
Views from Emmons Moraine trail.
Views from Emmons Moraine trail.
Views from Emmons Moraine trail.
Green tarn from Emmons Moraine trail.
Green tarn from Emmons Moraine trail.
Green tarn from Emmons Moraine trail.
Green tarn from Emmons Moraine trail.
This entire detour took about 45 minutes. I got back to the main trail and continued on. Lots of little water crossings (all on bridges) and the flowers started to appear.
Flowers on Glacier Basin trail.
Flowers on Glacier Basin trail.
Flowers on Glacier Basin trail.
Flowers on Glacier Basin trail.
Indian Paintbrush on Glacier Basin trail.
Indian Paintbrush on Glacier Basin trail.
Views from Glacier Basin trail.
Views from Glacier Basin trail.
Views from Glacier Basin trail.
Views from Glacier Basin trail.
Mountain Aster on Glacier Basin trail.
Mountain Aster on Glacier Basin trail.
Glacier Basin trail.
Glacier Basin trail.
Lupine on Glacier Basin trail.
Lupine on Glacier Basin trail.
And a few views.
Views from Glacier Basin trail.
Views from Glacier Basin trail.
Lupine on Glacier Basin trail.
Lupine on Glacier Basin trail.
Lupine and paintbrush on Glacier Basin trail.
Lupine and paintbrush on Glacier Basin trail.
Eroding hillside across river on Glacier Basin trail.
Eroding hillside across river on Glacier Basin trail.
Colombine on Glacier Basin trail.
Colombine on Glacier Basin trail.
Thistle on Glacier Basin trail.
Thistle on Glacier Basin trail.
Lupine on Glacier Basin trail.
Lupine on Glacier Basin trail.
The Burroughs Sunrise junction was passed.
Junction to Burroughs/Sunrise from Glacier Basin trail.
Junction to Burroughs/Sunrise from Glacier Basin trail.
Another sign to a blocked off short spur as the trail continues up to the right.
A short spur trail off Glacier Basin trail.
A short spur trail off Glacier Basin trail.
Glacier Basin trail second sign of snow.
Glacier Basin trail second sign of snow.
Meadows on Glacier Basin trail.
Meadows on Glacier Basin trail.
Glacier Basin trail.
Glacier Basin trail.
Flowers on Glacier Basin trail.
Flowers on Glacier Basin trail.
In short order I arrived at the camp area and just past there the end of maintained trail and the basin.
Views from Glacier Basin trail.
Views from Glacier Basin trail.
Entering Glacier Basin camp area.
Entering Glacier Basin camp area.
Glacier Basin camp area.
Glacier Basin camp area.
Glacier Basin camp area.
Glacier Basin camp area.
End of maintained trail in Glacier Basin.
End of maintained trail in Glacier Basin.
The basin was nice but I wanted to proceed as far as I could reasonably get that made sense.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Not sure why there is pipe in the trail in Glacier Basin....
Metal pipe on trail in Glacier Basin.
Metal pipe on trail in Glacier Basin.
More views and more flowers as you climb higher.
Views from Glacier Basin area.
Views from Glacier Basin area.
Views from Glacier Basin area.
Views from Glacier Basin area.
Anemone in Glacier Basin.
Anemone in Glacier Basin.
Magenta paintbrush above Glacier Basin.
Magenta paintbrush above Glacier Basin.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
At one point the trail wants to go up a steepish narrow dry dusty ridge. I looked to the right and it looked like you could just go up the gully which looked less sketchy so I went that way.
Dusty ridge on trail above Glacier Basin.
Dusty ridge on trail above Glacier Basin.
Views beyond Glacier Basin.
Views beyond Glacier Basin.
"Trail" through gully above Glacier Basin.
"Trail" through gully above Glacier Basin.
"Trail" through gully above Glacier Basin.
"Trail" through gully above Glacier Basin.
After a short diversion I worked myself back over to the ridge, which now looked a little more inviting.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Still more flowers and the smell of lupine was in the air.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
At just under 6700 feet and about 8/10ths of a mile past the end of maintained trail I came to a spot where there wasn't anywhere else inviting to go. A snowfield with a creek running under it, or loose scree. I saw some people on a knob off to the right.
Views from turnaround. St. Elmo's pass in distance on ridge line.
Views from turnaround. St. Elmo's pass in distance on ridge line.
Views from turnaround.
Views from turnaround.
People on knob above Glacier Basin.
People on knob above Glacier Basin.
Views above Glacier Basin. People are on the tan knob in the lower right hand corner.
Views above Glacier Basin. People are on the tan knob in the lower right hand corner.
I backtracked slightly and found a nice flat rock for lunch.
Views from turnaround spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from turnaround spot above Glacier Basin.
Incredible spot and if not for a few bugs it would have been perfect.
Views from turnaround spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from turnaround spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from turnaround spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from turnaround spot above Glacier Basin.
Zoom view up Rainier from turnaround spot above Glacier Basin.
Zoom view up Rainier from turnaround spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from turnaround spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from turnaround spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from turnaround spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from turnaround spot above Glacier Basin.
My lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
My lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Pano1 from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Pano1 from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Pano2 from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Pano2 from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Pano3 from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Pano3 from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
A slight breeze came up which kept the few bugs more at bay.
Views from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
Views from lunch spot above Glacier Basin.
People heading down dusty trail above Glacier Basin.
People heading down dusty trail above Glacier Basin.
After about a half hour or so with a few bug bites but nothing major, I started to make my way back down.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
A hard place to leave. Views with literally every step and the smell/sight of flowers once you got off the pure rocks.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin down steep dusty ridge.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin down steep dusty ridge.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Views from trail above Glacier Basin.
Flowers on Glacier Basin trail.
Flowers on Glacier Basin trail.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
Views back down from above Glacier Basin.
Views back down from above Glacier Basin.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
Flowers above Glacier Basin.
There was one little crappy spot in the trail. Grab a root or bypass on the right.
Crappy trail spot above Glacier Basin.
Crappy trail spot above Glacier Basin.
Water off Glacier basin trail.
Water off Glacier basin trail.
Soon enough I found myself back in Glacier Basin. No wildlife though.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
People walking across Glacier Basin.
People walking across Glacier Basin.
After a brief picture stop I headed back down the trail and stopped at that spur which ended shortly above the river.
Glacier Basin trail heading down.
Glacier Basin trail heading down.
River from view spur off Glacier Basin trail.
River from view spur off Glacier Basin trail.
River from view spur off Glacier Basin trail.
River from view spur off Glacier Basin trail.
Saw a few people coming up on the way down. One looked all equipped with overnight stuff, crampons and the like. A few backpacker types and a few dayhikers.
Views from Glacier Basin trail.
Views from Glacier Basin trail.
Flowers on Glacier Basin trail.
Flowers on Glacier Basin trail.
Rainier from Glacier Basin trail.
Rainier from Glacier Basin trail.
Rainier from Glacier Basin trail.
Rainier from Glacier Basin trail.
Rainier from Glacier Basin trail.
Rainier from Glacier Basin trail.
Rainier from Glacier Basin trail.
Rainier from Glacier Basin trail.
Views from Glacier Basin trail.
Views from Glacier Basin trail.
Views from Glacier Basin trail.
Views from Glacier Basin trail.
Again the final part of the trail is so good it seems more like a walk than a hike. lol.gif
Lower Glacier Basin freeway trail.
Lower Glacier Basin freeway trail.
Lower Glacier Basin freeway trail nearing trailhead.
Lower Glacier Basin freeway trail nearing trailhead.
Walked back through the campground and to the parking area.
Solar panels in a campsite at White River campground.
Solar panels in a campsite at White River campground.
Back to parking lot.
Back to parking lot.
All in all a great day. Got above any rain/clouds in the area. About 5 1/2 hours car to car and maybe 10.5 miles and 2700 feet of gain/loss.

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boot up
Old Not Bold Hiker



Joined: 12 Dec 2006
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boot up
Old Not Bold Hiker
PostWed Aug 24, 2011 10:09 pm 
Looks like you really lucked out on the weather! I have done chunks of that hike as part of a loop, starting at Sunrise and dropping down between 2nd and 3rd Burroughs and back up the trail from the camp to Sunrise. A very nice loop in a normal year. This is not a normal year. I didn't make it as far up as you did. I was wondering what that would be like for a hike down low when parts of the loop are not user friendly due to snow. Looks like starting down low has some nice options for getting a hike in. up.gif

friluftsliv
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moosefish
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moosefish
I am the fish
PostThu Aug 25, 2011 7:48 am 
Did you see any way down to the green tarn from the Emmons Moraine trail?

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five10
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five10
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PostThu Aug 25, 2011 11:07 am 
Great pictures. Did you see any bears? There are usually a few that hang out in the basin. How were the bugs? I think those pipes are from an old mining operation. Right in the camp you can see big "squarish"rocks stacked in a regular pattern that look like an old foundation. Part of the existing trail used to be a road up there. A lot of it has been washed away. But, they've been working hard to fix it back up.

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nuclear_eggset
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nuclear_eggset
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PostThu Aug 25, 2011 12:12 pm 
Oooo, pretty flowers. Looks well repaired/replanned from when I was there (a couple of years ago). And yay for such fabulous weather!

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tigermn
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tigermn
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PostThu Aug 25, 2011 8:35 pm 
moosefish wrote:
Did you see any way down to the green tarn from the Emmons Moraine trail?
At one point there was a place where it looked like you might be able to make a way in that direction. Not sure how brushy it might be. Also if you venture off trail watch out for those stay on the trail volunteer ranger patrols.... lol.gif

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tigermn
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tigermn
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PostThu Aug 25, 2011 8:37 pm 
five10 wrote:
Great pictures. Did you see any bears? There are usually a few that hang out in the basin. How were the bugs? I think those pipes are from an old mining operation. Right in the camp you can see big "squarish"rocks stacked in a regular pattern that look like an old foundation. Part of the existing trail used to be a road up there. A lot of it has been washed away. But, they've been working hard to fix it back up.
No bears and I was looking. frown.gif Interesting on the mine stuff. I wonder when they mined? Had to be before it was a national park. I didn't stop long until I got above and the bugs weren't too bad at my lunch spot. I had a couple take a nibble. The sometimes light breeze helped when it was blowing. Taking pictures around the basin it wasn't like I was getting eaten alive or anything.

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