The NPS report of snow coverage on this trail is discouraging, but in reality it couldn't be much easier. First snow was encountered just below the creek crossing (4200'). If you loose the trail, simply step over to the creek and follow it upstream a few yards to the bridge. Trail is clear for about 20 minutes before disappearing in snow. Ignore footprints running parallel to the creek; they lead nowhere. Instead, look for a switchback up to the left. After locating this switchback, you'll find the trail bare for another 20 minutes until the forest clears to allow veiws of the Tatoosh Range. At this point, look for a switchback to the left (keep looking behind you, it's easy to miss) or continue cross country towards Chutla Peak if you prefer. The final steep switchbacks to the saddle are bare. If you choose to continue to Eagle summit, be warned: I dispute the rating of Class II. I'd call it IV, and I'm fairly certain I was on the standard route. Rock quality is generally good, but holds are not always shaped or positioned as you might prefer, and exposure is considerable. My final approach to the summit was guarded by a trio of goats, one neonatal. The adults were more protective of their territory than I'm accustomed to. No mosquitos sighted.

Just thought I'd pass along that if you are heading out to do Eagle Peak, be aware that the well traveled snowshoe path does NOT lead to the saddle below the peak. Instead of crossing the creek as the trail on the map depicts, the well travelled path continues south to the top of the ridge that runs east towards Wahpanayo (sp?) Soooo, if you're intent on doing Eagle, bring your map and compass (as always), don't rely on the tracks already there, and most importantly, beware of avalanche danger. Wind slabs were definitely forming on west aspect slopes today.

The Eagle Peak Saddle above Longmire in Mount Rainier National Park was today's hiking destination. After hearing me talk of my hiking adventures with various buddies, my sweetheart Mavis wanted to give hiking a try to see what the buzz was all about. Under gray skies and threatening rain showers, we parked in front of the Longmire Community House, walked a short distance to the signed trailhead, and commenced the hike. The trail starts out in beautiful forest and provides an excellent path through the woods. The trail's grade is moderate, its wide, and the footing is solid. The moderate grade is conducive to liesurely chit-chat on the trail, but when Mavis directed the conversation towards the differences between men and women, that was all the prompting ol'Goober needed to put it into overdrive. Ahh, the joy of solitude and silence on a wilderness trail! Before I knew it, the trail broke out of the deep forest into a mix of subalpine tree groves and open meadows. The trail begins to steepen here with many switchbacks. I noticed lots of shortcuts between switchbacks (bad hikers!!!) that people had worn in the terrain despite rangers' efforts to guide their way with branches, sticks, and stones. The lower meadows' bloom appeared to have already occurred but the upper slopes just below the saddle were truly spectacular with the variety of wildflower color they offered in this optical smorgasboard. A sign at the saddle told me I had arrived at my destination. A brief walk to the right afforded me better views of the clouds that were shrouding the mountain from Paradise on up. Mavis joined me shortly and we enjoyed a snack, the company of several gray jays, and watching the thin clouds swirl up the vertical canyon in front of us like geysers. Though the clouds denied us what surely would have been a grand view of the Mountain, the hiking gods gave us just compensation by placing a mountain goat at the saddle precisely at the same time we returned for our descent. Although he seemed friendly and was even wagging his tail, I assured Mavis that we should keep a respectable distance which we did. On the descent we also crossed paths with two deer who seemed equally at ease with our presence. The excellent conditions on this trail allows for a speedy descent as one can lengthen their stride and let gravity provide a helpful hand back to the trailhead. Total hiking time was four hours and no hazards of any type were noted on the trail. A great hike rain or shine!

This trail begins after crossing the Nisqually River bridge (usually done on foot as it's alot easier to just park in the main lot). It starts out going UP and is relentless in it's pursuit of the saddle. Usually some place on a trail it will atain a ridge line and follow it. Not here. This is uphill all the way. The saving grace for the current hot weather is it is 90% in shade of fantastic, old growth forest. Once you break out in the sun you will be faced with a vertical flower feild that is framed by massive walls of mountains. Don't think your journey is near an end at this point. The final pitch to the summit saddle is almost a scramble over rocks of the water drainage. At the signed summit you have a reward of all the major Cascade peaks. Adams, St. Helens, Hood are all visable. Rainer soars in your face when you turn from the others. The way to the top of the surrounding peaks are all unmaintained and really silly 'cause the veiw from the saddle is not only as good as it gets - it is as good a veiw as any day packer could ever ask for! A word to the wise - don't bring the kids on this one. It's just too steep.

Eagle Peak became a ""Must-Go"" at about the same time the Kia car company had a Sportage commercial with 2 guys taking the urn with the ash of their dead uncle up an ""Eagle Peak"". The ash spills, and it's just a funny commercial. So, I found Eagle Peak in the Northwest and added it to the list. This trail is in amazing shape. It is not rocky or rooty, nor does it have any drainage problems. After slogging through Squire Creek last weekend, it was a nice treat. It is wide (but not too wide) and well constructed. Kudos to the builders and maintainers. The trail is about 3.7 miles to the saddle, gaining about 3000 feet. The first 2 miles is in the forest, and the trail flirts with a creek for about 4 switchbacks before finally crossing it. It is a wonderful forest walk, as long as you stop every few switchbacks to breathe and enjoy it. It is a steep trail, but we blazed through it and made it up to the first clearing in about 1.5 hours. The Randle Green Trails map show this point at 4700ft. The Mt Rainier West GT map show this same point at 4900ft. I think our altimeter said it was 4800ft. Eh. This is where it gets fun. And steeper. You climb up about 250 feet or so (just a guess) and then walk through the upper forest gaining some more. This is where the snow is. This is the ONLY place the snow is. Follow the trail made in the snow, but watch out for the dualing trails. On the first split, take the low road, and it joins up later with the high road. On the second split, take the high road. If you go low, you'll end up trampling a strip of meadow that is older that you are. Don't be a meadow stomper! Once you are out of the forest, you enter the last final ascent to the saddle. It consists of about 20 switchbacks, each one steep as hell, and each on getting progressively smaller. I think the final switchback was about 5 feet long! It provided some entertainment, zig-zagging back and forth like that at the end. Total time to the top: 2.5 hours. Plenty of blueberries growing. The saddle' Well, I'll assume that the view kicks ass, but since we are early hikers we were robbed of a view due to fog clinging to the mountain. But, I did get to play with some very fluffy camprobbers while eating my orange and trail mix. Tightened the boots and headed back down. We met about 8 groups on the way. Made it down in 1.25 hours. After enjoying burgers and berry cobbler at the National Park Inn, we left only to find the fog had cleared the mountain, and we got to see exactly where we went. Wow. Yay mountains! Stupid fog.... Never got a view or Rainier, or the hand in front of my face, for that matter.... Trail is excellent, 95% snow free. No water on trail, a few mud holes, no blow down. Marvelous.