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!

A belated Spray Park Report but for a reason. An excellent hot weather hike as there is a fair amount of shade on the way up and Spray Falls to cool you off. We drank the water from the stream at the bottom of Spray Falls and two weeks later...no ill effects. It doesn't all have Giarrdia! Be prepared for mobs of families and little kids that love to do nothing more than trip other people on the trail and get in the way. The Horrible Ron [Online editor's note: Not all people show symptoms when they haveGiarrdia. Some people are simply carriers spreading it around for others to enjoy. Readers are reminded to make their own decisions when itcomes to whether or not to filter.]

The flowers were out in full force, the sky was clear blue, and the air was quite warm. A beautiful day in the park. The bugs were hungry! A few things to remember to bring: water, sunscreen, water, fly swatter, water. You wouldn't want to ruin a wonderful day with sunburn, bug bites and dehydration.