This Monday found me in upper Spray Park instead of at work. Only encountered a few people on the trail, and only one party on the path towards Echo/Observation. Great views, still some flowers, one bear, a few orbitting horse flies, kind of hot above treeline, take lots of extra H20. [Online editor's note: Oh by-the-way Steve. Your boss called. Your fired.]

We choose a beautifully clear day to do this hike. Although it was rather warm, this is a good warm weather hike because most of the elevation gain is done under cover of trees. Make sure to do the Eagle's Roost and Spray Falls spur trails. The black flies are a little bothersome for the first mile or two of the hike, then dissipate. You shouldn't need bug juice unless you plan on remaining stationary for more than say 15 minutes. There is a little water on the trail after you pass the spur to the falls. Saw a large black bear foraging for berries in the meadows of Spray Park. He looked up at me, but didn't seem interested in confronting anyone. Several people near us fled. I've heard that you should never run away when confronted by a bear, but back away slowly and if he approaches jump up and down while making a lot of noise. A perfect end to this hike is a good ""foot soaking"" in Mowich Lake.

I hadn't been on this trail for a while. It appears to have received some major upgrades. The lower part of the trail has some rooty and rocky spots, but for the most part it's easy walking. Just beyond the Eagle Cliff view point there were a couple of deer blocking the trail so I picked them up and moved them aside. They just stared at me and blinked their eyes. There are hundereds of wood check steps along the trail making the steep portions easy to negotiate. The trail through the meadows has been built up with large flat rock-lined turnpikes filled with gravel and many rock steps all of which appears to have been brought in from off site. Many side trails have been blocked off for revegetation and camping is no longer permitted. The meadows are filthy with marmots and I also saw one small black bear along the trail. The flower show is past its peak, but there are still lots of Explorer's Gentian, Lewis' Monkeyflower, Magenta Paintbrush, and Alpine Asters. As you leave the delicate meadows and continue along the Wonderland Trail you enter rocky basins which still have some lingering snow. Here there are more opportunities to wander off the trail and scramble up to view points. I watched one avalanche on Rainier.

The hike up to Spray Park was not too crowded. The trail was dry and dusty. Bugs were not too bad. I have seen worse. Flowers were still to be found in the park and a very friendly family of marmots were there to greet and entertain us. Rumors of bears were to be heard from fellow hikers, but not seen by our group. Mt Rainier was a beautiful sight and posed regally for many pictures. It was hard to leave and come back down the trail.

Beautiful blue skies and exceptional warm weather, a virtual palette of blooming flowers throughout the meadows, Mt Rainier up very close and very personal and spectacular views in all directions ... it was either Spray Park or heaven!