Spray Park was so wonderful today! The road in is pretty potholed right now, but most any car could make it. The road is nice and wide and not a difficulty drive. We got to the parking lot around 8am and there were lots of spots in the lot at Mowich. Thanks to the recent weather the trail was very wet - lots of puddles and mud - so I’d really recommend waterproof boots if you go soon. Right before we got to the main meadow area, a couple let us know they saw 4 bears, two of which were close to the trail. By the time we got up, the bears had moved away from the trail. We saw 3 of them up the hill farther away from the trail. 

Some of the steps as you get higher in the meadows were icy and slippery today. There are lots of big rocks close to the trail in the meadow for good spots to stop for a break. We saw a good number of people on the trail today, several people trail running and a few backpackers. However, when we leaving, there were cars parked all the way to the last big hairpin turn on the road, which I believe is close to 1 mile from the parking lot) so I’m guessing lots of people hiked Tolmie Peak today! Also a reminder that no pets are allowed on the trails here - remember the bears are definitely out and about! 

We hiked 9 miles total from the trailhead and back. I forgot all the stairs on this trail that go up and up but it was a great day on the trail!

Trail ran the mother mountain loop which comes up and through spray park and down through Seattle park. At about 6000 feet and half mile into spray park we hit snow. Ran into a bear right on the edge of snowline. If you are doing the loop recommend GPS as snow makes navigating difficult. Spray park itself was amazing. Only around half and inch of snow. 

Lower Carbon river bridge almost washed out. 

This was my first time hiking all the way to the top of Spray Park and descending into Seattle Park. I'm glad I waited until the last day of summer to try this, since there were still a couple of snowfields to cross (and one or two more to skirt). Picking up the trail after each snowfield was relatively easy, but following it down the rocky moraine was a little more dicey. Thankfully, cairns and yellow-painted rocks kept me on course.

I only ventured a mile or so into Seattle Park but found it lovely and saw only three or four other hikers, all of whom were backpacking in or out. The trail here is narrower and more rugged than at Spray Park. It's also steeper in places.

On the way back, a fog rolled in that made navigating the snowfields and rocky moraine more challenging (I'd hate to get lost out there when the visibility is so low).

Asters and coreopsis are still blooming at Spray Park. Several people mentioned a mama bear and her cub, but my only wildlife sighting was a red-tailed hawk (although I heard plenty of pikas on the way to Seattle Park).

Photos and video below.

Scrambled to the top of Observation Rock via Knapsack Pass -> Spray Park, returning via Spray Park. It's a gorgeous and enjoyable trek, but could pose some notable route finding issues in bad weather.

Some notes about the "off-trail" portion:

• Crossing the Flett "Glacier" (really, more of a snowfield) is straightforward, I'd say spikes are optional but recommended, with the snow/ice conditions largely dependent on the day's weather
• You can approach Observation a few ways: we approached by following the scree-and-pumace filled ridge to around 7400 ft, cutting across the less-steep portion of the snowfield close to the eastern side of Observation rock, and then doing some pumace climbing to join the climber's trail leading from the col/Echo Rock
• The actual rock "scramble" to the summit hardly qualifies as that, it's basically a walk up.
• Do not try and descend the rocky chutes leading from the north face of observation rock! The rock is truly terrible, and you will dislodge huge boulders left-and-right. We bailed after only a few terrifying minutes.
• It became misty shortly after we reached the summit, but before then I could see that the western part of Flett glacier was heavily crevassed and probably not passable.
• I'd highly recommend descending via the typical route, e.g the col and obvious bootpath that leads to Echo rock. 
• Some relatively safe, low-speed glissading was possible.

Hiked to Spray Park and beyond. Mist Park. Beautiful hike despite the fog. On the way to the park you pass the falls and they are marked on the trail. The falls are amazing and to get a full view you have to cross the stream. It is relatively easy now. You should have some poles for the crossing. Spray Park and Mist Park are beautiful meadows with flowers and berries. We had no views of Rainier because of fog. Still very nice and mysterious.