What a disaster! Set aside the stunning views, a forest-fire smoke tinged sunset, engaging wildlife (salamanders in aquatic form, frog, grouse, gray jays), sparse ripe huckleberries and a sunny, end-of-summer day. The ~15 mile (?) washboarded, rocky protuberanced dirt road to Mowich Lake, I mean, Jeepers, what a wreck. Beware to your vehicle shocks. My daughter and I were briefly entranced by seeing a bear on the other side of Eunice Lake until a dog started barking and spooked it and yanked me out of my bougie reverie. At the Tolmie Peak lookout we waited for sunset for 3 hours amongst the loudest party I've encountered in the outdoors. ~30 plus people were loudly chatting away, with total disregard to their environment. No respect or reverence for the majesty unfolding before them. While we were waiting for the sunset, a techie dude flew a drone in front of the audience. It was all I could do to not start throwing rocks at it in protest. Shame on me for an entitled expectation of a quiet moment with nature on a Saturday in August at a popular trail in Rainier National Park. At the summit of Tolmie, I was thinking, I should have scrambled Fay Peak, it would have been closer to Rainier and quiet, absent the yahoos.
Trip Report
Tolmie Peak Lookout - Eunice Lake — Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023
Mount Rainier Area > NW - Carbon River/Mowich
Type of Hike
Day hikeTrail Conditions
Trail in good conditionRoad
Road rough but passableBugs
No bugsSnow
Snow free
Comments
Tolmie has always a hot mess at sunrise and sunset in the summer. Faye Peak is a much better place.
As far as the drone operator, by any chance did you get a picture of the person? If so, you can email the picture to the NPS. Not only are drones illegal in NP's, it is a federal crime, they can also ground all firefighting aircraft immediately. With the two new wildfires just west of the park boundary, flying a drone is just.....well, can't really put my thoughts in words.
Posted by:
Mary&Mollie on Aug 27, 2023 11:53 AM
It’s been a while since I’ve encountered this menace so I didn’t react fast enough to take the guy’s photo. Thanks for the tip.
Posted by:
forhikingTR on Aug 27, 2023 12:25 PM
It’s been a while since I’ve encountered this menace so I didn’t react fast enough to take the guy’s photo. Thanks for the tip.
Posted by:
forhikingTR on Aug 27, 2023 12:25 PM
It’s been a while since I’ve encountered this menace so I didn’t react fast enough to take the guy’s photo. Thanks for the tip.
Posted by:
forhikingTR on Aug 27, 2023 12:25 PM
I thought dogs were not allowed on this trail??
Posted by:
TMM on Aug 27, 2023 03:10 PM
You thought right!
Posted by:
DRDana on Aug 27, 2023 03:27 PM
There is a sign at the start of trailhead indicating no pets allowed. Also, park rules do not permit pets on trails. The dog was also swimming in Eunice Lake.
Posted by:
forhikingTR on Aug 27, 2023 05:17 PM
Sorry that you had to endure that. It's impossible to change other peoples behavior but I still would have said something to the drone and dog owners. I agree it's best to avoid going to very popular hikes on weekends and at sunrise/set. I also now always bring noise cancelling ear buds. So much better to listen to good music than to be annoyed listening to loud strangers.
Posted by:
Maddy on Aug 27, 2023 03:32 PM
Good report and photos. I agree with Maddy. You need to say something to people if you see them with a dog or a drone at the park. I am not shy about doing so. A few years ago I was talking to a ranger about this area of the park and he said it's the wild, wild west up there. They have more issues with people not obeying the rules out of Mowich (Spary Park, Tolmie Peak) then anywhere else. SR
Posted by:
stever on Aug 27, 2023 04:43 PM
Thanks for feedback and support!
Posted by:
forhikingTR on Aug 27, 2023 05:25 PM
I didn’t know the park rules on drones so I didn’t want to comment on something that I wasn’t sure of. So I made an attempt to look it up on my mobile phone and thankfully there was no cell service, almost as if I were in the wilderness!!! It’s a slow build to educate everyone but it will happen, one comment at a time. Thanks for the support!
Posted by:
forhikingTR on Aug 27, 2023 05:23 PM
Love the salamander photo! I have seen them there too many years ago! Good to see the lake still supports their life cycle. Sorry you had to endure such a horrible wilderness intrusion experience! I am finding it pretty taxing out there as well.
Posted by:
BlueGoat on Aug 27, 2023 04:15 PM
Thanks for the support. I didn’t realize it was that bad out there. It’s great motivation to use my imagination to try trails that don’t get all the pub!
Posted by:
forhikingTR on Aug 28, 2023 08:44 PM
It's getting like this everywhere. Social media and the selfie generation is to blame. Everyone wants to post "look what I did today!" on their social media pages, and some even break the law intentionally just to say "look what I got away with today!". I heard that Sunrise was pretty much trashed by idiots squashing the wildflowers and lighting illegal campfires while watching the Perseid meteor shower.
And if you think Mt Rainier NP is bad, check out Yellowstone:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/travel/a-group-of-excited-tourists-surrounded-a-grizzly-bear-and-her-two-cubs-at-yellowstone-national-park-sparking-a-debate-about-how-humans-interact-with-wildlife/ar-AA1fQpiF?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=537aaa35361341e99a9656df2737a16a&ei=99
Posted by:
DK1998 on Aug 27, 2023 09:24 PM
Wow, incredible. So sad
Posted by:
forhikingTR on Aug 28, 2023 08:48 PM
I have had a wild range of comments as I've modeled, reminded of the park rules. Some folks are completely unaware those are the easiest folks. I usually approach all with a kind face, give them eye contact and say, "Hi there are you having a nice hike?" Then I might ask where they have been on their day and what they have liked best or really enjoyed. Finally after a few minutes of engaging them politely, I mention the rule about dogs and Leave No Trace. Most of the time people acknowledge they know about no pets or leashing their pet (other parks) but go ahead and continue to do what they want like it doesn't apply to them. Occasionally some will just say they don't care and those are folks you don't want to tangle with. Last week my group ran into a guy with a pistol open carrying at Summerland. Some of my group was startled and a bit scared. Always be careful and assess your own risk before engaging. In some ways it is like the "Wild Wild West"
Posted by:
Lisa Elliott on Sep 01, 2023 12:30 PM