Boundary Trail, Alki Crest
Mar 14, 2010
by
Sawin' Ya
—
last modified
Mar 14, 2010 09:20 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Boundary Trail
- Region: Mt. Rainier -- NW - Carbon River / Mowich
- Agency: Mount Rainier National Park
- Avg Rating: 3.00
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Alki Crest
- Region: Mt. Rainier
- Avg Rating: 2.50
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
This trail is not shown on Green Trails Map #269, but I have found it on USGS topo maps online. It begins at the back of the Carbon River nature trail across the street from the ranger station. If you take the .3 mi loop clockwise, it will be easier to see the trail heading up the hill.
This trail pleasantly gets to business immediately: climb, switchback, climb some more, and switchback again. After a few minutes of this, you'll realise that you're heading decidedly west. A few more switchbacks, and you may notice yourself crossing the park boundary, into national forest land.
What I'd guess was a mile and a half and 1400' gain brings you to a nice waterfall at about 3200', where I called it quits. There were smatterings of snow here, and the wind was chilling me a bit. I radioed my partner, who claimed he was getting close to the ridge. I know what it's like to be fooled by what looks like a growing patch of sky when you're heading up the trail, but I decided to humor him anyway. Twenty minutes later he radioed to tell me he had attained some sort of ridge, and there was about two feet of snow up there, at 4400'.
In general, the trail is in good condition up to the ridge. There's a few spots (mostly outside the park boundary) that need some regrading or trail widening, but there are no trees down to maneuver around. According to the topo map I looked at, the trail descends from the ridge to Tolmie Creek, then ascends and skirts the west side of August and Virginia Peaks. It then switches to the east side to pass below Martin Peak, then drops to Mowich Lake Rd, about a half mile west of the Paul Peak trail. One of the gentlemen I spoke to on the trail mentioned an unmaintained trail that climbs up the ridge, crossing back east into the park boundary toward Florence Peak. I'm excited to explore this area further.
Skunk cabbage is blooming in the wet lowlands. I saw a lonely blossom on a bare twig that I thought was currant.
This trail pleasantly gets to business immediately: climb, switchback, climb some more, and switchback again. After a few minutes of this, you'll realise that you're heading decidedly west. A few more switchbacks, and you may notice yourself crossing the park boundary, into national forest land.
What I'd guess was a mile and a half and 1400' gain brings you to a nice waterfall at about 3200', where I called it quits. There were smatterings of snow here, and the wind was chilling me a bit. I radioed my partner, who claimed he was getting close to the ridge. I know what it's like to be fooled by what looks like a growing patch of sky when you're heading up the trail, but I decided to humor him anyway. Twenty minutes later he radioed to tell me he had attained some sort of ridge, and there was about two feet of snow up there, at 4400'.
In general, the trail is in good condition up to the ridge. There's a few spots (mostly outside the park boundary) that need some regrading or trail widening, but there are no trees down to maneuver around. According to the topo map I looked at, the trail descends from the ridge to Tolmie Creek, then ascends and skirts the west side of August and Virginia Peaks. It then switches to the east side to pass below Martin Peak, then drops to Mowich Lake Rd, about a half mile west of the Paul Peak trail. One of the gentlemen I spoke to on the trail mentioned an unmaintained trail that climbs up the ridge, crossing back east into the park boundary toward Florence Peak. I'm excited to explore this area further.
Skunk cabbage is blooming in the wet lowlands. I saw a lonely blossom on a bare twig that I thought was currant.
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