Indian Bar - Cowlitz Divide — Saturday, Jul. 26, 2014

Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon

A beautiful day on the Wonderland Trail! Despite a change of plans, we had a great hike with spectacular views, not to mention the good workout. We were hoping to do an overnight, camping at Indian Bar, but it was not meant to be. We showed up at the White River Ranger Station at 8:15 am on Saturday morning to find the line out the door, and both Indian Bar and Summerland marked "Full" on the tracking board. We decided to ditch the overnight gear and go for a day hike, instead of considering alternate camping options. Departed the Box Canyon TH close to 10am. Took us about 3.5 hours to reach Indian Bar, with just a few water breaks. Although most of the elevation was gained in the first 3+ miles, there were several big ups and downs afterward and the total elevation increase was close to 5,000 ft. Upon reaching the ridge, snow still covers about 30% of the trail. Microspikes were not very helpful because of the warm weather, but caution is definitely advised, especially in sections where water is running underneath. The views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and the meadows were breathtaking! Indian Bar doesn't have as many great panoramic views, but the shelter and the small bridge over cascading water were very scenic. Also enjoyed chatting with some of the through-hikers. We look our time heading back, enjoying the views and taking lots of pictures. Made it back to the car shortly after 7pm.