Spray Park — Friday, Jul. 7, 2006

Mount Rainier Area > NW - Carbon River/Mowich

Road up to Mowich Lake in great condition: just a bit of washboarding near the steeper corners. Campsite and parking lot full at the lake, but plenty of room to park along the road just before it. Trail in good condition, spectacular waterfall in full flow, great views over to the mountain and across the Cascades to the north, and plenty of wildflowers (lilies, and lots of red, blue, and yellow ones that I'm too ignorant to recognise). Snow free through the woods and the steep climb, but there are snow patches once you reach the meadow, getting progressivly denser the further you go until the trail is totally blocked maybe a mile from the end of the forest. Easy enough to cross, though, and there were snowboarders higher up. Be smarter than I was and bring sunglasses for crossing the larger patches. I wasn't aware of any mosquitos at the time, but there must have been a tonne of them in the woods because I'm covered in bites the next morning! Be smarter than I was and bring repellant.