Got up to see the Sunrise @ Sunrise one last time for the season website reports they close the gates 10-8, but not sure i will get back up so this was my saying good-bye to the top of sunrise area for the season. I'm sure I will hit Glacier basin one more time as it's open a bit longer and it's lovely with a dusting of snow. Today I arrived at 5:30 it was dark, 2 other cars in parking lot no one else around. Put on headlamp and decided I probably didn't have enough time to get up to burroughs and i had been there alot this year, so i opted for sourdough ridge views instead. There was a bit of smoke in the air but not too bad. I got some photos and moved towards LO noticing the pikas getting ready for winter. I saw large herd of goats way across the hill on the backside towards Fremont so that's where i headed to see if i could see them again. And I could, very nice, looks like winter coats are coming in. They were lounging in the shade. By 11 i was tired from getting up so early and took my time back to the car. Animal count today was 4 piak, only 1 marmot, and 20 goats. Good-bye Sunrise, you sure have been good to me this year. I think it was the highest animal count to date and lots of bears! Until next year..

From Sunrise, my dad and I took Sourdough to Burroughs Mtn. Trail all the way out to the third Burroughs. At nearly the top of the third, we heard low rumbling in the distance. We looked over at Mt. Rainier, and sure enough, a poofy white cloud appeared. We used the binoculars when we reached the top, just in time for a very large avalanche to head down one of the chutes on Mt. Rainier. We were able to watch the avalanche and listen to it. It was magnificent! We went all the way to the end of the trail on the third. So far I've only done about 6 hikes in the couple years I've lived here so far, but this is by far my favorite yet! The views from even just the first Burroughs is great, and then even better on the second, but then the third just blows them away! We were able to experience glissading down a melting snow patch coming off the third burroughs. It was a lot of fun! We had a great pace going up the Burroughs and we did run/walk intervals back down to the first Burroughs, where we split off and took Shadow Lake-Sunrise Camp Loop back to Sunrise parking lot. We were very disappointed that we couldn't cool off in Shadow Lake due to the No Swimming signs, although that is understandable. All in all, a fantastic hike/trail run. I'll definitely be back to this one! Oh, we also saw a herd of mountain goats in the meadows of the second burroughs. I definitely recommend hiking up to the third burroughs... it is well worth your effort getting there!

From Sunrise parking area, we took Sourdough Ridge to Frozen Lake and Berkeley Park. On the way back, from Frozen Lake we took Sunrise Camp/Shadow Lake trail back to Sunrise. Prismatic wildflowers, blue skies, white mountain, electric green moss and clear alpine streams, steeped in lupine scent, melting in the sun, marmot whistle pierces surreality, eyes drawn to far-off Baker, boots firm in red-brown sand. Further than this, I am inarticulate. Pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/51278183@N05/sets/72157627620911684/

Ascending up the road to Sunrise has some nice flower displays along the road. Enjoy! As there aren’t many flowers up at Sunrise. The parking lot is dry and bare – but there is 1-2 feet of snow in the meadows just outside the parking lot. I headed up towards Sourdough Ridge trail – hoping to find a well trod path thru the snow. There was no well trod path – but I did find the NPS wands as I approached the ridge. Then I noted the last wand and did a back bearing to the lodge ( the clouds/fog were so thick, I couldn’t see the lodge very well). Once on the ridge, there is a well trod path heading out to Frozen Lake – which crosses several snow fields. Between snow fields, the trail was totally melted out. I had a pole and microspikes and had no problem crossing the snow fields. The snow was soft and the boot trail well defined. At Frozen Lake, the sign pointing the trail to Freemont Tower was quite visible. After crossing a few minor snow patches, the trail to Freemont Tower was snow free until the final approach. It seemed that the higher I got, the less snow there was! There were a few wildflowers coming out about ½ way to Freemont tower. Stopped by visitor center (which had a very nice 3-d map display of Mt Rainer park w/trails) on the way back to the car. The ranger was suggesting people take the road behind the visitor center – and then the trail to Frozen Lake was wanded when the road turned to snow. There were a few flowers poking their noses up around the visitor center. I was glad for the extra jacket and gloves I had thrown in at the last minute. It was a delightful hike – but it’s going to be a few weeks(?) before the trail is snow free and the wildflower show is in full bloom.

Late start, ok, as due to weather and season few up at Sunrise...even with clouds, some snow pellets, some snowflakes, still a nice hike from sunrise along sourdough ridge to Dege Peak. It was neat having it all to myself! (the peak). Peakaboo views of surrounding mtns, valleys, dusted with snow. This is a 4 mi rt hike listed by rangers as moderate (800' gain)...while the thin air slowed me down, this is still a lovely hike any time of year. A few bluebells still, dried yellow grasses. Some snow on trail here and there, only 1" deep.