Longmire to Cougar Rock Campground, Van Trump Park, Mildred Point & Wonderland Trail — Wednesday, Jun. 22, 2011

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise

We left the parking area above Longmire at 8:30 a.m. and headed up the Wonderland trail towards Rampart Ridge. The trail was virtually snow free as far as the juction with the Van Trump/Mildred Point trail. Shortly after turning onto the Van Trump/Mildred Point trail we encountered heavy snow. The trail through the trees along Rampart Ridge was 95% snow covered and slippery. (Microspikes would have been nice here!) Route-finding skills required!! Near the top of the ridge we broke out into the open and traversed a moderately steep snowfield with views of Van trump Park and continued up to the flat below Mildred Point. The snow here was deep but very wet and consolidated. The remainder of the hike to Mildred Point was relatively easy and the route obvious. On our return trip, we elected to bypass the steep snowfield and descend through the trees at the top of the ridge. Total trip time was about 8.5 hrs. Note: we took ice axes and snowshoes and used both sparingly at times, but didn't find either absolutely necessary.