Spray Park
Jul 28, 2009
by
snowdog
—
last modified
Jul 29, 2009 10:10 AM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Spray Park
- Region: Mt. Rainier -- NW - Carbon River / Mowich
- Agency: Mount Rainier National Park, Carbon River Ranger Station
- Avg Rating: 4.00
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
- Be Aware Of
- Water on trail
- Snow on trail
- Bugs
We got a bit of a late start, arriving at Mowich Lake about 10:30am. Yes, it was hot, and yes, the bugs were pesky- but aren't they everywhere at the moment?
We got to Spray Park in about an hour (3 miles) and the flowers were amazing & prolific!
Just past Spray Park,on top of a ridge there is a spur trail that leads up between Echo Rock & Observation Rock. We chose to head up the snow (faster) and go around behind OR(to better sneak up on the summit), but encountered a bunch of red,crumbly pumice. Getting over that slowed us up a bit.(the red mixed with the gray granite was pretty though)
We regained a snowslope & then scurried up to the top. The hot sun was producing a veritable symphony of rockfall from the glaciers directly above us- always nice to be watching & listening from a safe distance! We did enjoy a respite from bugs with a nice breeze and a bit of altitude.
(about 8300')
Heading down (good glissades, but bumpy with suncups on my tender derriere,) we noticed some dark, ominous clouds coming our way from the east- this put a bit more spring in our step.
We drove home dreading the hot house that awaited , so we detoured to grab something to eat in an air-conditioned environment- putting off coming home until much later- house was still 87- ugh.
We got to Spray Park in about an hour (3 miles) and the flowers were amazing & prolific!
Just past Spray Park,on top of a ridge there is a spur trail that leads up between Echo Rock & Observation Rock. We chose to head up the snow (faster) and go around behind OR(to better sneak up on the summit), but encountered a bunch of red,crumbly pumice. Getting over that slowed us up a bit.(the red mixed with the gray granite was pretty though)
We regained a snowslope & then scurried up to the top. The hot sun was producing a veritable symphony of rockfall from the glaciers directly above us- always nice to be watching & listening from a safe distance! We did enjoy a respite from bugs with a nice breeze and a bit of altitude.
(about 8300')
Heading down (good glissades, but bumpy with suncups on my tender derriere,) we noticed some dark, ominous clouds coming our way from the east- this put a bit more spring in our step.
We drove home dreading the hot house that awaited , so we detoured to grab something to eat in an air-conditioned environment- putting off coming home until much later- house was still 87- ugh.
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