Fremont Lookout, Sourdough Ridge — Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021

Played hooky this morning and walked out to the Fremont fire tower from Sunrise.  No line at the gate at 8:00, the main lot was maybe 20% full.  All the paving work has been completed along Sunrise Park Rd and it’s in great shape.  The visitor center is closed due to the covids but restrooms were open and in good condition.  We took Sourdough Ridge out to Frozen Lake/5 corners on the way up and the Wonderland Trail on the way back just to mix things up.  All trails are in excellent shape.  There was just a bit of smoke haze early on, but better than I had anticipated.

I love Fremont - it’s a wonderful walk but it never is difficult/punishing and it puts you a bit farther away from Rainier so it’s not quite so in your face like Burroughs.  It’s just out there by itself, much higher than anything else around so the views are amazing.  Didn’t see any mt goats today but there was a playful raven pair at the lookout and I got “EEeeeeep!”d at repeatedly by what appeared to be a whole family (four individuals altogether) of marmot sitting on a rock high above Wonderland just east of 5 corners.  Quick shout out to “SteveR” - I waved at you in Grand Park from the fire tower, did you see me?  

https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/sunrise.htm