Fremont Lookout — Saturday, Jul. 18, 2020

Fremont Lookout, with the right conditions, is one of the best hikes in all of Washington State. Sweeping panoramic views of Mt. Rainier and the surrounding peaks take your breath away. On a clear day, you can see the entire Olympic and Cascade Ranges from the lookout point. At just over 5 miles round trip and ~1000 ft. gain, it's also easily accessible for new hikers. 

We started our hike at approximately 7:00PM with the goal of watching the sunset, NEOWISE comet and Milky Way. When we got to the Lookout, there were probably 50+ people scattered around the peak, but by sunset it started to thin out. 1-2 hours after sunset there were even less people, making it easier to do astrophotography. A small group of us stayed until approximately 2:00AM to watch the full rotation of the Milky Way over the mountain. If you have clear skies, can stay warm and have headlamps for the hike back, I highly recommend staying out late.