Spray Park — Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011

Mount Rainier Area > NW - Carbon River/Mowich

On August 3, we went to Spray Park. There were only 17 cars at the trailhead and about 3/4 of the walk-in camp ground was still covered with some snow. Snow covers most of the trail beginning about a quarter mile from where you cross the creek just as the trail opens up as you enter the lower park. The main basin is about 3/4 covered with snow. Route finding isn't difficult in the Park. Just follow the "dirty" boot tracks made by folks who have been there before. Snow conditions appear to be more like the first week in July rather than August. There are a few early flowers but "prime time" is at least two weeks away. This is a great hike for relatively little work and the light on the mountain only gets better as afternoon turns to evening. There is no place in the Cascades I have been to more often than Spray Park.