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Sourdough Gap,Naches Peak Loop,PCT #2000 — Aug. 6, 2005

Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
2 photos
M&S
 
First time hiking at Chinook Pass area. Arrived at PCT parking area just east of the large wooden overpass on Hwy 410 at 6am. Did the Naches loop first, took me about 3 hrs with stops for photos. Nice variety of scenery as you circle Naches Pk, though the flowers weren't as impressive as I had hoped- certainly the intensity paled compared to recent hikes at Snowgrass Flat in the Goat Rocks and Adams High Camp (Killen Crk trail). But still a very pretty trail, passing a couple pretty tarns, Dewey Lks. and a grand view of Rainier on the backside of the loop (if doing it clockwise) with a tarn in the foreground- unfortunately too windy for a reflection shot. You come out at Tipsoo Lk and then have a short hump to climb to close the loop back at the PCT parking area. So off I went in the other direction on the PCT, towards the north and Sourdough Gap above Sheep Lk. The flower show was instantly much more intense along the long traverse the PCT makes on the slopes above Hwy 410. The first mile is hindered by the proximity to highway noise but still in all you are surrounded by a grand landscape- Naches and Yakima Pks behind you on either side of Chinook Pass like huge guardians of that portal, and ahead of and below you is the valley of the Rainier Fork of the American River. After 1.5 miles the trail turns a corner and begins a gradual climb up to Sheep Lake in another mile in forest. The lake is very pretty under the rugged cliffs around it, and I saw only one party camping there. I continued on as the trail skirts around the lake, past its outlet and begins climbing thru lots of purple asters toward Sourdough Gap. Rainier is seen briefly near the top on the other side of the ridge. The Gap itself is literally a notch in the ridge and while there is a great view back of the Chinook Pass area, Adams and St. Helens off in the far distance, and ahead of you the PCT continues on towards Canada, the best views are after climbing 300' on a rough boot path up to the ridge above- you pass thru the gap and start heading down towards the north and look to your left and find a steep boot path following alongside the rocky ridge that the Gap bisects and just follow it straight up to the rugged ridgetop and tremendous 360 deg views! Too many peaks to name, but everything from Rainier, Glacier Pk, Baring, Stuart, Adams, St Helens and directly below you Crystal Lk. Definitely worth the extra effort to sit up there, eat lunch and enjoy life. I had my perch all to myself and was surprised by the lack of people out and about in the area. Maybe they were all watching the Blue Angels and hydros. (<: i="" happy="" was="" finally="" able="" to="" check="" out="" the="" chinook="" pass="" area="" very="" nice="" indeed.="" trip="" stats:="" naches="" pk="" loop:="" mi="" rt="" gain="" sourdough="" gap:="" in="" out.="" photos:="" from="" peak="" loop="" adams="" distance="" right="" sheep="" lk="" point="" above="" gap="">

Naches Peak Loop — Jul. 24, 2005

Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
Tokyo Tessie's Driver
 
The flower show up at Naches Loop was so beautiful that I just had to share it with someone so drove Tokyo Tessie up again, this time with a friend (and also hiking boots!). We did not get to the trailhead till 500p but by then all the late afternoon clouds had evaporated away so we were blessed with The Mountain making a grand appearance for us. The flowers were even more beautiful in the late afternoon/early evening sunlight. Unlike my solo hike on Saturday, we had the trail almost all to ourselves, met just one other party along the way. Correction to my earlier report - I had thought this trail was only 2-3 miles, but in fact it is 4.5 miles in length according to ""50 Hikes in Mt Rainier National Park"" by Spring & Manning.

Naches Peak Loop — Jul. 22, 2005

Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
2 photos
Tokyo Tessie's Driver
 
Took Tokyo Tessie for a drive today up to Chinook Pass to take in the scenery that was mostly a blur when I zoomed through during the Miata Club's unofficial drive to Whistling Jack's Lodge last week. Parked along the road intending just to do the loop around Tipsoo Lake where wildflowers abounded. Therefore I was armed with only my Merrill sandals and 1/2 bottle of diet pop. Ended up discovering the trail that leads up to the Naches Loop Trail, crossing over the highway on that overpass at the top of the pass. I was leery about continuing on without all my hiking gear (such as my normal 2 liters of water & 10 essentials kit). But I talked to an older couple who said they did the loop in about 2 hours walking slowly so I decided to chance it with my sandals and pop. Boy, am I ever glad I did! ""Lupine fields forever"" appeared to be the theme for today on the Naches Loop Trail. There were other flowers, such as Indian Paintbrush, ""Cousin It,"" Shooting Stars, Beargrass, and others whose names I don't know, but all dominated by the lupines, whose fragrance wafted through the air as I walked. Great views of the Dewey Lakes, then Mt Adams, Cowlitz Chimneys, and Governor's Ridge. The Mountain, unfortunately, was mostly obscured by late afternoon clouds, but I could imagine what it would look like from there on a cloudless day. The trail is mostly flat with gentle grade where it's not, wide and smooth, very do-able with sandals, but watch your toes! Hiking boots or even sneakers would be much better, of course. It took me a little over an hour so I'm guessing it must be around 2-3 miles in length. I saw people with dogs on the part that was not MRNP. I don't know if they were doing the loop illegally or doing an out-and-back on the non-MRNP part. Walking in a clockwise direction probably gets you the best views while moving without having to stop and turn around.

Naches Peak Loop — Jul. 15, 2005

Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
2 photos
swjunckie
 
Unfortunately the waterfall was done for the season, but I'm happy to report the trail is fairly well packed and ready for a full season of hiking. Almost no snow as far as you can see around the peak. I took this hike last July 5th and it was snowy on the N and NE sides. This time was completely snow free and the wildflowers are in full bloom. Plenty of hikers on the trail so single hikers (altough not recommended) can take the hike with no problems. Older children would find this a fun hike too. Littler ones would like the loops and trails around Lake Tipsoo.

Naches Peak Loop — Jun. 17, 2005

Mount Rainier Area > SE - Cayuse Pass/Stevens Canyon
Jon Shields
Beware of: snow conditions
 
Substantial snowmelt since my scouting trip a week earlier. Trail was only about 30% snow-covered this time out. Led a group of 6 Mountaineers new members on this trail. Based on previous week's scouting, we started counter-clockwise from the Tipsoo Lake trailhead, encountering some patches of snow out to the half-way point. Based on reports from hikers coming from the opposite direction (some in shorts and soaking wet tennis shoes!) although there was still a fair bit of snow on the north and northeast slopes of the loop, it sounded like fully-equipped hikers should have no problems. At that time, boots, gaiters and trekking poles were nice to have on some of the remaining snow patches (there are still some snowbridges over shallow snowmelt streams, and a couple of places where postholing was evident, but not nearly as bad as last week), but at this rate of melt-out I suspect the trail will be almost completely snow-free within a week or two. (The new hikers expressed that they felt more comfortable doing the counter-clockwise route, because they were going downhill rather than uphill over most of the snow that lingered.) Lots of wildflowers (mostly avalanche and glacier lilies, magenta Indian paintbrush coming out on the south and east sides, phlox, first few lupines), heard but did not see grouse, and found only one lingering potential cougar print in the snow. Other hikers had reported seeing mountain goats in the vicinity that day, too. If you go, I'd still recommend wearing boots (for traction on the wet snow, and to cross several small muddy spots and puddles on the trail -- Leave No Trace ethics encourage going directly through rather than skirting around these) and bringing gaiters just in case (to keep the slush out of your boots). If you must hike in tennis shoes, either wait a couple of weeks or be prepared for cold, wet feet! Also, bring your sunscreen; I got a nice sunburn on my neck from the light reflected off the snow! (I was fooled by the cloudy start of the day; with the sun behind the clouds it was cold and windy, but when the sun peeked out occasionally we baked rather quickly, and probably got at least some UV throughout most of the day anyway.)