American Ridge — Sunday, Apr. 17, 2016

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410

I hiked the American Ridge trail from the American Ridge trail-head near the beginning of the Bumping River Road. The first 2 miles or so go steeply upward until you make it to an open area along the spine of the ridge proper (~4500') with magnificent views of Nelson Ridge across the Bumping River valley. There were ~40 trees across the trail to this point and no snow. All easy to walk around though some will give folks on horseback trouble. I imagine most people turn around at this point as beyond here the trail is less well trod. From the viewpoint the trail drops down to ~4200' at Fifes creek over the course of a mile. It occasionally becomes mixed up with deer trails and can be hard to follow. By the time I reached Fifes creek I was route finding in 1-3' of continuous snow. I decided not to waste my day post-holing and instead headed straight up the snow free hillside until I reached the crest of the ridge which I followed SW until I reached a high point marked on my map as 5492'. The ridge had snow in spots at this elevation but never very deep. From point 5492' I could see Goat Peak and the drainage below it which still had a lot of deep looking snow. I was quite glad I had turned around instead of trying to follow the trail beyond Fifes creek. The NW face of the American Ridge and Nelson Ridge both had deep snow that probably won't melt out completely for a few months. No other cars in the parking area when I started around noon or when I came back. Didn't see anyone all day in fact. Strange for such a gorgeous Sunday. There are a few wild-flowers blooming in spots but I think it's still too early for most. No mosquitoes or flys but I must have brushed 50 ticks off myself today.