Not much time to make fun of my dad in this trip report. I am too busy planning my next hike.
This trail did not show up on my map, but Zachster gave us good directions to the trailhead. We were surprised at the six other cars in the parking lot at the end of this bouncy road.
Oh good, we're starting early
Our favorite
Coral fungus
The hike has a few steep spots but is mostly well graded. Glacier View Wilderness is entered not too far before Lake Christine. There were some guys camped right next to the lake. It looked like a great place to swim when the temperature is a little warmer.
Fading but nice
First time in this Wilderness
Me and Lucy
Lake Christine
Some people were confused by the snow near the junction to head up to the summit, but we easily found our way. Soon snow stopped and we saw the most avalanche lilies I have ever seen. Bugs were starting to add up too.
The summit has a pretty serious cliff on the north side, so dad and mom kept us seated as we had lunch. Mt Rainier played peekaboo, but eventually showed up as the clouds lifted. Everyone had already left so we had the top to ourselves. Yay, another late start pays off!
I could see two lookouts in the area, so we have a reason to come back. Lu and I can recommend this hike for kids as long as care is taken.
Thanks for the TR Tiger. I am disappointed to report that some of our pictures and a very fun video did not download. I wiped the card before I figured that out.
Road 59 is not obvious from Hwy 706. It's just about 3.2 miles past Whittaker's Bunk House. If you cross Copper Creek, you just passed it. If you hit the 35 zone, you have definitely passed it, although with the upcoming chip sealing project, there is going to be a lot of 35mph zone on 706.
Once on 59 drive 4.2 miles and take a hard right. Drive another 1.6 miles to the trailhead, which is obvious. We saw some interesting characters in this area. Some were camping, riding quads, and just staring off into space.
The hike: ~4 miles R/T with 1200' of gain
Nice TR. I think every kid should do this hike. It has two thing that most kids want to see on a hike, a lake and views.
Magellan wrote:
If you cross Copper Creek, you just passed it.
If I was describing the turnoff to someone that had never been there, I would say ~ after crossing a small creek, there is a restaurant on the left. Turn around at the restaurant. Go back over the creek and take the first gravel road to the right/north.
Hey, aren't you kids s'pozed to be home eating junk food, watching TV, or staring at a computer screen like a zombie? Get with the program.
There's a reason they call it "programming".
Some people have better things to do with their lives than walking the dog. Some don't.
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Some people have better things to do with their lives than walking the dog. Some don't.
Nice report.
I think Beljica was the first named summit I ever bagged (edit: yes, it was.) I somewhat prefer to come in the other way, from the Glacier View trailhead. Instead of turning off the FS road to Lake Christine, keep going to the top of the ridge (great views from up there) and over to the trailhead for Glacier View (a nearby peak-let with a nice view of the mountain) and Beljica meadows. You can also go to Goat lake or Gobbler's Knob from there.
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