Knapsack Pass, Spray Park — Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010

Mount Rainier Area > NW - Carbon River/Mowich

Spray Park provided a nice no hunting zone for a sunny fall hike. Compared to summer, plentiful parking. Sunshiney day in Spray Park, warm enough if not in shade, not much wind. Hiked in via Knapsack and out via regular trail. Went up Mount Pleasant and down the ridge to the saddle between Pleasant and Hessong, rather than the usual way that goes higher in Spray Park. The lower reaches of Knapsack trail had giant frost heaves and even some water ice but still manageable. Still a few small several times frozen berries available near Knapsack. Main trail that was in official Park was pretty muddy from the melted frost but that cleared up once out of the Park. While the views and scenery are always spectacular, there really is not much fall color going on in these areas, which was a little disappointing. Oh well. Saw a small herd of goats on the "back side" of Fay Peak, as viewed from Hessong-Pleasant saddle.