Our Sunday plan was to hike down to Dewey Lake from Chinook Pass but driving up from Cayuse Pass through some super thick low visibility cloud/fog with the temps dropping close to freezing we rethought that plan and headed up to a sunny Sunrise instead.  This was my second time up to Dege Peak but the few weeks between my trips made for remarkably different conditions.  The temperature at the Sunrise parking lot was high 30's but the sustained north west wind may it seem much colder.  Hats on, hoods up, and gloves out was the order of the day.  The main bathrooms are closed for the season but there are two pit toilets east of the day lodge.  Don't make my mistake of jumping out of the car to join the long line without my jacket!  Twenty minutes later I had to beg off waiting to go find it before a good ten more minutes of line standing.  The nice full service restrooms at the White River entrance are still open and are a much better option.

Suitably bundled up we headed up Sourdough Ridge hanging right at the first junction.  Fortunately the trail stays on the south side of the ridge and offered shelter from the wind.  Any thoughts of a warm fall hike were quashed as soon as you hiked past one of the ridge gaps though.  The wind had it uses though keeping the threatening cloud bank south of the Cowlitz Chimneys, and the ever changing cloudscape was a mesmerizing high light.  Although not know for its fall colors hiking up the meadow the low light illuminated the Pasque flowers leaves into a sea of yellow candy colored dots.  Along the ridge we saw ptarmigan just feet from the trail.  They are such gentle birds and have begun to transform to their winter white.  Also of note we saw a Bald eagle gliding through the valley, not a bird we see very often at the park.  Surprisingly the top of Dege Peak was not too windy and we were able to stay quite some time to admire the views and the ongoing cloud tug of war. 

Coming back down we continued back along the ridge to the west and found a sheltered spot with an old log bench for a late lunch.  From here we could watch the match box sized cars still streaming into the parking lot.  Parking was now tight but the cold temperatures were encouraging a rapid turnover of spaces.  Watching the clouds swirl around Mount Rainier's top was impressive and finally they would not be denied.  Hiking on we took a last look over the ridge to Huckleberry basin where from the shadows you could see just how fast the clouds were moving, and as we hiked back down the main trail the sky above became a sea of white cotton candy. 

Back at the car temps were now only mid 40's a reminder that at Sunrise winter likes to try and leap frog fall.  Not a long hike, less than five miles, but a great way to say goodbye to Sunrise for the year.

Note: Someone had left a half eaten apple core on at the top of Dege peak, luckily I had a waste bag to pack it out.  Please do not leave fruit skins or apple cores.  The little critters will add these to their winter storage food piles where they will rot their stored food and the animal will starve.  Also fall means animals are on the move meaning special attention is needed to driving - we saw way too much road kill on the way up to Sunrise including chipmunks, squirrels and sadly ptarmigan.  Slow down watch for wildlife.

This time of year if you get decent weather you'll never regret making the long drive to Sunrise.  Summer crowds and gate-lines are gone, entry reservations are no longer required and parking is easy.  The park has a low key vibe, preparations are underway for winter but there's still time to enjoy any last sunny days.  Matching our hike to the clear skies and mellow temperatures we headed up the ridge to Dege Peak.  I've never been before and thoroughly enjoyed both the trail and the summit.  I loved all the little vistas down to the basin on the north side, each one with a slightly different outlook.  The lower fall sun makes for dramatic shadowy scenery of the rocky outcrops.  I was concerned the summit approach would be some kind of boot path spur, but it has a proper signed junction and switch backs.  The top has space for quite a few people and came with a volunteer ranger pointing out all the good things, including the goat herds in the valley below.  Outside of Burroughs 3 I'm not sure there's a more impressive view point from this section of the park.  You get to enjoy not only staring at Mount Rainier but all the other major peaks and ranges on offer.  Adams, the Cowlitz Chimneys, Tamanos, Stewart, Glacier - everyone is at the party.  The predicted clouds absent, the air was clear, and the views superb.

Not wanting to serve ourselves short after back tracking from the summit we continued our ridge walk along Sourdough Ridge to the Frozen Lake junction. There are still some flowers and butterflies to enjoy and a marmot was knocking rocks on to the trail as he tried his best to scurry up the slope, his summer plump curtailing any kind of athleticism.  The sun was warm here and the plants giving off that late summer herbal elixir.  From the junction we could see clouds rolling towards us across the stark tundra of upper Berkeley Park, a reminder that the next weather system was headed in.  So sad to think in a few weeks this will all be unavailable.

At Frozen Lake we turned back toward Sunrise dropping steeply down on the Wonderland/Shadow Lake loop.  Not too many hikers here and making the hike a loop is always a treat.  Final stats were close to 8 miles and around elevation gain of 1000 feet, although some of the rolling ups and down, specially that last half mile up, made it feel like a little more.

Quick and easy to follow trail. This is a great option as a sunrise hike if you want to avoid the crazy crowds at Fremont Lookout. I started my hike just after 5am (so no reservation needed to enter the park)The views are spectacular! I ended up hiking Skyscraper Mountain afterwards, to make the long drive out worthwhile. 

Great hike. Wonderful views, fairly easy and convenient

Patrols are out pulling people over. Deer and elk are out and about too. Take it easy on the roads. I thought I was going to get sunshine this morning but when I drove through a downpour on my way up to the  mountain it looked doubtful. It was 39 degrees at 6 a.m. at the start of my hike with low visibility. Lots of gloom. I loved the quiet. This hike has been "discovered" so it's hit or miss if you get a disco of sunrise watchers. This morning was just me for the longest time. It's possible I got my head on straight about a few plaguing issues on my mind or not, but I certainly felt lighter at the car. It's a short hike, 4 miles, around 900ft elevation gain, and mostly smooth terrain. The last jaunt up to the peak is rocky and with a little kick to it with steepness compared to the rest of the hike. Next time it's so gloomy, I may try Naches Peak. It's good to know the ideal rainy day or socked in hikes. The mountain was starting to show off when I made my drive back home but just being up there did the trick.