Camp Muir
Aug 03, 2011
by
HikesWithCameras
—
last modified
Aug 08, 2011 12:13 AM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Camp Muir
- Region: Mt. Rainier -- SE - Longmire / Paradise
- Agency: Longmire Wilderness Information Center
- Avg Rating: 4.06
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
- Be Aware Of
- Snow on trail
The big guy, acting all coy & hiding in some cloud cover
Having now summited Mt Pilchuck a number of times, I decided I was ready for something a little higher, and Muir sounded like fun.
Hiking alone, I set out from the lower parking lot at 10, and immediately set up from Paradise. Immediately you're greeted with snow, and the occasional bare patches which are often filled with wildflowers. The ascent doesn't waste any time in getting started -- I was huffing & puffing within minutes. I first made my way to Panorama Point, shooting many pictures along the way, and many more once I got there. I then back tracked a bit, and headed towards Muir after crossing the creek. Not very used to hiking in higher altitudes, the sun & progressively thinner air really started to kick my butt as I slowly made my way up Muir Snowfield. As I neared Anvil Rock, the look of some ugly approaching clouds (and my now-empty camelbak) made me opt to turn back about 0.6 miles from and ~500 feet short of my goal. I sat to eat a late lunch & sipped my reserve Gatorade, and was enveloped in the pea soup of a thick gray cloud. The return trip made for some AWESOME glissading down the snow field, and bounding through the lower snow, which had softened in the afternoon sun.
I was a bit disappointed to have not made it to the camp, but good photos, good conversations with other hikers, and the ridiculous glissading more than made up for it.
I've posted a few videos. One shot where the trail splits to go further up towards Muir or over towards Panorama Point, and one of some hot glissading action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjMNpqgddbg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_rWSsb76xk
Hiking alone, I set out from the lower parking lot at 10, and immediately set up from Paradise. Immediately you're greeted with snow, and the occasional bare patches which are often filled with wildflowers. The ascent doesn't waste any time in getting started -- I was huffing & puffing within minutes. I first made my way to Panorama Point, shooting many pictures along the way, and many more once I got there. I then back tracked a bit, and headed towards Muir after crossing the creek. Not very used to hiking in higher altitudes, the sun & progressively thinner air really started to kick my butt as I slowly made my way up Muir Snowfield. As I neared Anvil Rock, the look of some ugly approaching clouds (and my now-empty camelbak) made me opt to turn back about 0.6 miles from and ~500 feet short of my goal. I sat to eat a late lunch & sipped my reserve Gatorade, and was enveloped in the pea soup of a thick gray cloud. The return trip made for some AWESOME glissading down the snow field, and bounding through the lower snow, which had softened in the afternoon sun.
I was a bit disappointed to have not made it to the camp, but good photos, good conversations with other hikers, and the ridiculous glissading more than made up for it.
I've posted a few videos. One shot where the trail splits to go further up towards Muir or over towards Panorama Point, and one of some hot glissading action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjMNpqgddbg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_rWSsb76xk
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The Tatoosh Range, to the south. Not quite from Panorama Point, though close.
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Glissading 101. This was an absolute riot. AAAAAaa++++++ Highly recommended, will buy again.
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Headin' home!
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