Burrough’s x’3 Epic trip-My first mountain goat experience 7-15-09 Today Zachster and I met @ Sunrise and planned on doing the Burrough’s. I had only gotten to the 2nd one before. As soon as Nancy got there we took headed up the trail around 9:00 AM. It was a fantastic morning already, cool 45 degrees, lots of flowers, and nice breeze. The mosquitoes were quite annoying until after frozen lake. They bit me several times at frozen lake. The flowers are fantastic right now. Purples and yellows and a bit of red. I couldn’t believe all the snow was gone from the trail all the way until past 1st Burrough’s. And only a few easy spots to cross at 2nd. We ate a bite and headed down and then up to the third. It was getting hot at this point and I had a hat on. I saw the larger snow fields ahead and wondered if I could get to top, it looked so far away and I was hot! Nancy is so sweet and patient she said we can stop and rest and turn back whenever you want. She also suggested I take off my hat, that really helped. I pushed on and up and up following her boot steps until we made it! When I reached the top of the ridge and saw the 3rd Burrough’s for the first time I said “oh my god!” about 10 x’s and then cried! It was so amazing! So close and spectacular! I think Nancy cried a little too so I didn’t feel like such a “girl”. We saw a bunch of goats from above and I was bummed they were so far away. Nancy brought me a summit cookie, which was so good! I downed that in seconds while she took pictures..then we took in the mountain some more and headed down for glissade’s. Glissading was so fun! We got two long one’s in and one short one. After that I looked to the left saw the goats again and we were pretty close, we quickly threw down our packs and slowly made our way closer to them w/o disturbing them eating. I zoomed in best I could, didn’t get any fantastic shots, but it was still very exciting. This is as close as I’ve gotten, I counted 15. Then we made our way back to the car, slowly. Let’s see…to recap the day • Perfect weather • Nice breeze • Wonderful company with someone who loves Rainer as much as me • Summit cookie • Multiple Glissades • Goat encounters (15) • Marmots • Did I mention the views!? • Crying at the sight of the mountain • Flowers • Killer sunburn that will turn to tan very soon • Over 200 photos taken I don’t think I forgot anything… Today was hike #57 for 2009

Hike to Burroughs # 3 I started the hike at 5 a.m. with my good friends, Bill & Scott. From the Visitor's Center to Frozen Lake, there were a few snow patches. The trail from Frozen Lake to the 1st Burroughs was clear of snow. From the 1st Burroughs to the 2nd Burroughs, toward the top, there was snow on the trail, but easily navigated. Along the 1st Burroughs, there was a mountain goat that was blocking the trail. I felt it was best to let him go by at his own pace with no persuasion from me. From the 2nd Burroughs, you can clearly see the large snow fields to the 3rd Burroughs. There were a lot of bugs in the a.m., not so much in the afternoon. On the way back down, we took the trail from the 1st Burroughs that runs along the ridge above the White River. There are 3 very steep snow crossings to get back to the Visitor's Center, via that route. I'd recommend to families with small children, going back the route to Frozen Lake & then on to the Visitor's Center.

My dream seeing the sunrise @ Sunrise (Mt. Rainer) Finally, at last I was able to make it to the Sunrise parking lot and watch the sunrise. It was a perfect journey! After checking website and calling the park and hearing from a ranger that the road was closed on Friday and depending on weather it could be closed at White River again Saturday, Annie and I chanced it and got up at 4:30 AM and were driving into parking lot just a few mins before sunrise 7:15 to be exact. While shivering at a crisp 24 degrees putting on our layers we were able to snap some good decent shots. I would have liked to have been there 30 mins before but I am SO NOT complaining right now. We headed up to the Burroughs, neither of us had done this trail before and were completely excited for the absolutely clear, crisp perfect morning we were having. The trail was frozen with a light dusting of white stuff. Perfect for boots, no snowshoes needed today. I forgot them at home so even if I needed them they were still sitting by the front door. In some places it was knee deep but not bad at all, someone had laid out the ground work for us and we just started climbing, the wind really picked up in spots but the views were to die for! I mean seriously, breath taking… every time I come here I see something new and different and I love this mountain! Ok, enough mushy stuff.. Hit the first Burroughs, and then the second and took massive shots and videos.. how can you not!? Saw a few people maybe 6, 2 in shorts and I am still cold thinking about these guys. But they were real mountaineers and not rookies like us. We were going to go on to third Burroughs but decided on heading back down towards Shadow Lake, I had not been that way yet. We cut the trail on this one, new views from different angles and jade color lake below was very cool. We saw a small twister of leaves above it and thought it was birds swarming at first. Then headed down to Shadow lake where we saw our first bit of wildlife a cute chipmunk doing a show for us and then Annie spotted a deer not far after that. Back to the car to rest our muscles and headed for home. Stats- 6 hours 5 or so miles and 164 pictures.. Here are a few, thanks for reading. This side of the mountain officially closes in next couple of days so if you are thinking about going one last time for season this is it.

Labor weekend snow at Sunrise ! Sunday morning we hiked towards Frozen Lake, soon experiencing increasing winds with near horizontal snowfall & mini ice pellets in exposed spots (felt like 20-25 gusts). Golly !! Many of those visitors deciding on a morning hike were in jeans and tennis shoes, and opted to take the loop trail back to the Visitors Centre to warm up at their welcoming fireplace. We dug out our warmer gloves and hats and hiked up to Second Burroughs; with two inches of snow accumulation on the trail and little visibility we turned around at this point. A man in a T shirt waved cheerfully to us as he scurried back to the parking lot; no hat, gloves or socks; his cotton shorts were stuck to his legs and his head plastered with snow. By mid afternoon the flowers had shaken themselves off as temps increased and the clouds lifted; we ended this enjoyable day with steaming hot chocolate at Sunrise cafe before heading down to the White River Campground. Map… Mount Rainier East GT 270

the day started out cloudy but cleared up beautifully by the time we got to the mountain around 11:30. Skies where totally clear and it was hot out. I had the whole family me my wife and our two girls....the youngest on my back. we hiked to first burroughs mountain and came back another route through a valley headed back towards sunrise. there was a 75ft long snow patch blocking the path on a steep slope. I probably shouldn't have crossed it with my family but we did. I had one on my back and held my oldest, 4, in my right arm while i walked across the steps in the steep bank. I had to drop them off on the other side and get my wife half way since she was freaking out...it was probably a little dangerous and i don't think i will make that choice again, my advice is avoid it, if you slip you are going all the way down. TONS OF mosquitoes! don't stop walking and bring sunscreen