Trip Report

Yurt Snowshoe, High Hut, High Hut Snowshoe, The Yurt, Snow Bowl Hut Snowshoe & Bruni's Snow Bowl Hut — Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise

Trip Report By

SavvyExploring

WTA Member

100

Type of Hike

Overnight

Trail Conditions

Obstacles on trail:
Trees down across trail.

Road

Road suitable for all vehicles

Bugs

No bugs

Snow

Trail snow-covered at times - gear and expertise recommended

The step through tree

Hiked High Hut Trail only, which shares parking and part of the same trail as Snow Bowl and the Yurt.

At least another foot of snow fell at High Hut last night with more lots more snow coming down this morning on our way out. There is a solid couple feet with thigh to waist high drifts in some areas. Snow stayed at least a foot deep to the Yurt/Snow Bowl/High Hut split and then was pretty solid right up to the upper parking lot. The lot had just a dusting and the road to the lower lot was wet but dry.

Between the split and High Hut there were two areas with trees down. One was an easyish step over and the other was more of a step through. Nothing crazy.

Road/Parking: Road is gravel/dirt with some decent potholes but most are avoidable. It has narrow sections and can be snowy. Chains may be needed in the winter. Sunday the lower lot and road was wet with no snow and the upper lot had a dusting. There is a pit toilet bathroom at the lower lot only. It was stocked and relatively clean. As of Sunday the upper lot had been reopened and had just a dusting of snow. You can find status updates here: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMTTAInformation/

Trail: The walk up to the upper lot was a steady uphill on mostly bare wet gravel road. The lower gate has enough room on one side to carefully walk around. Snow started pretty much right at the upper gate. We left our gear sled in the car and quickly regretted it. The upper gate is harder to get around with a bit of a drop on the walk around side and rocks to climb on the other, but both sides are not great with gear. There was enough snow for skiing or snow shoeing from the upper gate on as of Sunday.

This fan page often has trip reports from fans and ski patrol: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MountTahomaTrails & https://www.facebook.com/groups/280464006551221

Stats: With breaking trail from the High Hut split up and all the way down we clocked 4 miles each way, 2300 ft elevation gain/loss, 2.5 hours moving on the way up, 1.5 hours moving on the way down. We are moderate speed hikers who hike weekly.

High Hut: Heat, a stove, a giant tea kettle, french press, a huger gravity water filter, games....amazing refuge!

The mats upstairs are comfy but have a faint smell that may bother you if you are sensitive. The fold out couch bed is probably the least comfortable, but does fit two.

You might want to stop a good path to the bathroom before it gets dark out.

MTTA video by hut manager with tour and hut instructions: https://youtu.be/XY25NmmR9zk?si=OkeD3TwVz04au4S9

Upper gate Sunday