McClellan Butte — Tuesday, Jul. 25, 2023

There were a half-dozen vehicles in the parking lot at 07:00am on a Tuesday morning. The trail is clearly signposted, and traverses forest that contains many huge trees. It's an easy-hiking trail, but it goes up and up and up. Moderately steep, with many switchbacks, for 4,000ft. Swirling clouds interrupted the view of Rainier from the bottom of the summit pyramid, but there were fine crags to be seen on the way up and down. Perhaps the cool day inhibited the biting flies that are sometimes pesky near the summit, but there were also few butterflies. I took 3L of water, but used less than 2L.