Rampart Ridge Loop — Monday, Jan. 1, 2024

Great day for sun and solitude today! Started out at about 8 am this morning from Longmire. Went clockwise up the Rampart Ridge Trail so I could hit that view of Rainier. And wow, did it not disappoint!!! Brilliantly clear skies. I ran into one other hiker, other than that, it was just me and the wilderness! Insanely little snow on the loop...just small patches here and there.

I still had extra time when I hit the junction with the Comet Falls trail, so I went a couple miles up that one towards the junction with Mildred Point and Van Trump Park. Still no consistent snow until around 4800 ft. Crazy. Once there, it alternated between hardly anything and several inches in open areas. Well-established boot path, and I never felt the need for spikes. Use caution though, there is solid ice underneath the fresh dusting, so it was slippery at parts. I passed one group coming down on this trail. Otherwise, not a soul. Didn't see anyone on the way back to Longmire either. The parking lot was the emptiest I have ever seen it! The masses must have been at Paradise!