Type of Hike
Day hike
Set out on trailhead at Mowich Lake a little before noon. Didn't see any other folks on trail until around Eagle Cliff viewpoint. Views were much better than my last time up here last month when it was overcast. Clear but a reddish haze in the air that someone told me was from wildfires in Oregon (I didn't think the Australia dust storm would have made it all the way up here!) I went past the turnoff to Spray Falls since I was just up there last month, but it is well worth the effort. Spray Falls would be great on a hot day in the summer to cool off. The trail gets steeper and switchbacks after it passes the falls turnoff. The trail is all in forest until the grade lessens and it opens up into some meadows. Hessong Rock is visible to the north. After another moderately steep stretch everything opens up and Spray Park is reached. I soon came to a spur trail that I could see going up the ridge to the north. I decided to take it and after a steep climb I attained a saddle between Hessong Rock and Mt Pleasant. I noted a spur trail going around Hessong Rock that I figured was probably the summit path, but I decided to leave it for another day. Great views of Mt Rainier, Spray Park, Observation Rock, Echo Rock, etc. Some blueberries still on upper trail. Most wildflowers past their peak but Mountain Bog Gentians still noted in meadows. Followed trail back same way. Would like to do loop over Knapsack Pass at some point (trailhead near Ranger cabin next to Mowich Lake). Spray Falls/Park is a great area which I hadn’t been to until this year. Highly recommended.
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