Glacier Basin — Monday, Jun. 8, 2009

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River

The roads,parking lot and most of the White River Campground is snowfree. A few folks were wandering around trying to figure out why the campground was not open. (opens June 26th) Starting at about elevation 4350ft the lower half of the trail is basically snow free with only a few spots of snow and a few mud puddles. The trail is still wanded through the 2006 flood area. There was a WTA staff working with a NPS chainsaw crew to clear some logs including one section that has been rugged. By the time we got back that section was now easy passage. At about elevation 5350 the trail was covered in deep consolidated snow which requires good soles or YakTrax. Teh trail is easy to follow due to the bootpack traffic though more up and down to the snow banks. Some caution is required on some of the bridges. Glacier Basin campsites are all under 1-2 feet of snow. The attached images of Glacier Basin and the Inter Glacier speak for themselves. With plenty of sun, a few bugs, cool breezes it was perfect day for hiking.