williswall
poser
Joined: 30 Sep 2007
Posts: 1967 | TRs | Pics
Location: Redmond |
With one day to recreate this week, I decided to tick off my #62 on the Mountaineers Rainier 100 list the long way: Sunrise to and fro, which worked out to be a 25 mile day with 7700' vert. I figured my legs were prepped from last week's hike of Central Cowlitz Chimney. For the last time this year I hung out at White River in the van for a couple of days; the campground closes tomorrow (Sunday the 26th). How quickly the seasons pass. Another reason to base out of the high spots before the snows close down the roads. There have been a few reports on OD already here so I'll just say it was a wonderful fall day outside, starting with sunrise at Sunrise. Cool crisp temps added to the enjoyment factor. After 11 miles I arrived at the jump off point from the Wonderland, making my way up a dry wash to the plateau in Moraine Park. I thought maybe a direct line up would allow me to travel the ridge all the way to the high spot at 7137'. However, it didn't look great so after enjoying the views from a subpeak I traversed left side on unglued rocks to the usual route on the other side of the plateau. Mystic Lake looked puny below and from here one can take in the entire expanse of the Winthrop Glacier. Nice views of Curtis Ridge and Willis Wall, always a pleasure for me. After some lingering I did the much easier path back off the ridge and across the plateau to the dry wash, emerging on the Wonderland with only....11 miles back. I didn't have to pull out a headlamp until the intersection with Berkeley Park. A fine day indeed with the bonus of no sore legs the day after.
 Upper mountain  Sunrise sunrise2  Sunrise sunrise  Mountain framing  Skyscraper pass view to 3rd Burroughs  Old Desolate and Winthrop Glacier  Mystic Lake  Moonrise  Mineral mtn and Mystic Lake  Carbon River seracs lower  Balancing rock  Winthrop Glacier terminus  Winthrop Glacier terminus from OD  Winthrop Glacier close up  Willis Wall  Willis Wall b&w  Russell Glacier  Rainier from OD  Rainier from OD subpeak  Old Desolate and Mystic Lake  OD ridge  OD ridge towards Russell Glacier  Moraine Park plateau  Curtis Ridge from OD  Cool sky  Cloud Cap from Moraine Park
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