Skyscraper Pass, Skyscraper Mountain — Wednesday, Jul. 26, 2023

Bottom Line:

What does one do if the mountain is playing hard to get (low cloud)? Traverse through upper Berkeley Park on the Wonderland trail (where you cannot see over the Burroughs anyway) and head up Skyscraper Mountain for a perch in the mist, enjoying flowers, animals and solitude the whole way. Perfect!

Stats:

• Distance: 8.5 miles
• Duration: 3-1/2 hours
• Vertical: 2000 ft
• Road/Parking: First time this season that there has been a lineup at the Ranger Gate at ~3pm; it took about 35 minutes and plenty of folks turned around, but still, the trails were mostly empty beyond the Fremont Lookout junction so no problem (I did not see anyone for a couple hours); Summerland trailhead was very busy, as was the Sunrise parking lot (although almost empty when I left); National Park pass required for entry (credit cards can be used at the Ranger Gate); spotty cell service (reliable around the gate, but otherwise weather dependent on the mountain - none yesterday)
• Weather: Mostly cloudy with a lowering marine layer deck, 60s, breezy especially at the top of Skyscraper Mountain; minimal bugs; I could see my breath on the way back and the tube of water bladded was (nicely) chilling the first few gulps! 
• Trail: From Sunrise, Sourdough to Fremont junction, then Wonderland trail out to Skyscraper Pass, then scramble-lite boot-path up Skyscraper Mountain; returned with a loop from the Fremont junction, taking Wonderland all the way back to Sunrise hoping to see bears others had reported (no luck); trail is in good condition with no snow or obstacles, but plenty of snowfields below the Burroughs to contrast with the beautiful multi-colored rock faces; the verdant hills of Berkeley Park are spectacular from this trail, with a high animal-spotting perch; distant views to Grand Park (a green table in the distance); Skyscraper was misty, but could see the Burroughs and the lower reaches of Winthrop and Carbon glacier; goats on Sourdough, Fremont and Skyscraper Pass; marmot calls echoed in my ears overnight (am I that alarming?!)
• Flowers: Beautiful flowers end to end, with the following standouts: heather (white/pink), paintbrush (red, magenta), yarrow, western pasqueflower (seeded), explorer's gentian, penstemon, bistort, cinquefoil (dense on Skyscraper ascent), phlox, coiled lousewort, harebell (Skyscraper ascent), lupine, and daisy
• Water: The only running water on the trail was in upper Berkeley Park on the ascent to Skyscraper Pass
• Takeaway: Skyscraper Mountain is the perfect perch for stellar views of Winthrop Glacier, the west fork of the White River and even the ice pile of Carbon glacier below Willis Wall; the views are arguably better than Fremont Lookout, although there is a moderate scramble-lite ascent up to Skyscraper summit, which only has room for a couple of people at a time

No video today... kept this one simple ;)

More Information on this Trip Report

• https://wildflowersearch.org/search?oldstate=gms%3A4%3Bgmc%3A46.90619,-121.68979%3Bbloom%3AIgnore%3Blocation%3ASunrise/Burroughs%20Mountain%20(Mt.%20Rainier),+WA