Dege Peak, Sourdough Ridge — Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025

Today we hiked out and back on Sourdough Ridge trail from Sunrise point parking area to the cutoff to Sunrise with a dogleg up to Dege Peak.  It was overcast skies and the cloud level lowered as we drove up through the White River Entrance Station.  Maintenance work was in progress to shore up the rock retaining wall around the parking area and along the Sunrise Park Rd on the hairpin turn.  Construction vehicles didn’t hamper parking in the lot.  It was 50 degrees so we all geared up with long sleeves, vests and gloves as we head up the trail just before 10:00.  In short time the sun kept pooping out and we all shed layers.  The entire trail was dry and dusty with loose rocks and roots on some of the steeper uphill sections.  Clearing skies over the Cascades and made for some great territorial view skies.  About 1/2 mile from the parking area there was a strong animal scent along the trail and there was a large area of matted down foliage adjacent to the trail.  A meadow rover further up the trail said there were a few reports of elk in the area. Wildflowers were mostly fading but we saw a bright spots of lupine, paint brush, aster, alpine goldenrod, harebells and lousewort.  Sweeping hillsides were covered with faded asters, arnica, pearly everlasting and anemone pasque flower heads, beautiful in their own right.  There were ripe blueberries and huckleberries throughout. I haven’t hiked on this section of Sourdough Ridge trail in years and was surprised by the continuous trail traffic the entire time we were out on the trail. When we backtracked and headed up Dege Peak trail traffic was thick.  There were over 30 hikers on the summit and it felt crowded.  Mt Rainier would appear out of the cloud shroud and just as quickly disappear.  Continuous territorial views were better NW towards Forest Lake and Grand Park and to Norse Peak and the Crystal Ski area.  South views did not extend past Tamanos Mtn and Govenor’s Ridge peaks.  We lucked out and spotted 2 mountain goats grazing below on the NE flanks of Dege Peak.  A few chipmunks and juncos rounded out our wildlife sightings.  Several more hikers were heading out when we walked back to our vehicles just after 2:00.  Another fantastic day out in nature with friends.