The Perfect Day-Crystal Peak (Mt Rainier)

     There are two days that seem to stay with a hiker. The worst and the best. This was the best.  Getting going in the morning when my eyes are cloudy from sleep sand, and my ambition is held captive by a pile of covers takes special motivation. The motivation on this day came from the thought that sunny and clear days are now at a premium. It's November in the Pacific Northwest, need I say more. I got a late start after wresting the covers off, and getting my pack ready and loaded in the car. I intended to hike Summerland (Mt Rainier) one more time, but a road closed sign put a stop to that. So I turned around and drove back down Hwy 410 to parking lot with several cars in it. I had no idea if it was even a hiking trail, but was happily surprised to find a trail that went up a hill. Oh how I love a hill!! Up good, more up equals more good.
    The sign describing the hike said that it was 3 miles to Crytal lake, and 3.8 miles to Crytal Peak. Peak! Oh ya...that means up. The first 2 miles of the trail are in the dark forest, but the hill grade was around 10-12 percent and it was almost smooth. Like no rocks, roots or other things to trip over. At about 2 miles the trail is above tree line, and continues to the top...and what a view!! There was about 3-4 inches of snow the last two miles, but the trail was a decent grade and easy to follow. I did notice a couple of avalanche areas so this probably isn't a good winter hike.
   At the top, I stood alone for several minutes feeling the warm sunny rays on my face, listening to the absolute silence, and turned from north to south and then back north. I could see north to Mt Baker and Glacier Peak, and then south to  Mt Hood, Mt Adams, and Mt St Helens. I could see almost all the way to Canada, and then into Oregon while standing at the top of this immense peak. Then there's Mt Rainier...so big that I felt I could hit it with a rock. I'll return to this place many times...Here area some pics--- 

Nearly frozen river

Coming out of the trees

Rainier and the White River

Mt Adams, and Mt Hood about 1" to the right

Mt St Helens

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Mt Adams



Adams and Hood

Mt Baker

John Wayne Iron Horse Trail-11/2014

What the hell is RAGNAR?
   I began this railtrail hike at the Rattlesnake lake parking lot (south off Exit 32- I-90) and started walking eastbound towards Snoqualmie Pass. I wanted to walk some miles, and ended up walking about 11.5-12.0 miles, round trip.
   Soon after starting, a damn mountain biker scared the crap out of me (I have a mountain bike too), but would it be too much to ring ring ring a little bell?!! while travelling at mach 2 along the path. Anyway, not to be detered from a wonderful walk, I continued eastbound listening to the sounds of I-90, and watching as a beautiful hawk swooped down along the hill in front of me. Later, as I was powering through mile 3 or so, I noticed movement in the forest just to my left. A young buck was standing about 20 feet off the trail and casually turned towards me. I'm not sure if that area was open to hunting at that time, but the buck with a new rack (4 point? 2 on each side?) wasn't too concerned about humans. I continued east and came to RAGNAR.
   I'm guessing the RAGNAR sign (see pic) has something to do with a construction yard of some type that was utilized by the railroad back in the day. The clearing next to the sign has piles of old timbers, metal things, and gravel in it. It also had several large Elk prints. I believe they were Elk because of their size. I continued past RAGNAR, and at mile 5 or so I found the Exit 38 rock climbing area that is managed by Washington State parks. It looks like a challenging rock climb, and they have several routes with anchors already on the wall. Just past the rock climbing area are two large tresels. I walked over each of them, and then turned around and headed back. Half way back, the sky opened up and rain rain rain! Here are the pics--

18 miles to the Tunnel

2133 miles to Chicago?

Buck

Next to rock climbing area

Climbing rock (see anchors?)

Steep side trail

Sidet trail

Mt Teneriffe and the DNR's great idea

Ok, I try to keep most things positive. At least that's how they start out. This isn't going to be totally positive, and I make no excuses.
Mt Teneriffe (not the one in some far away land), near North Bend and the Mt Si trailhead has had some "updating." Apparently, the Washington State Dept of Natural Resources and Sound to Greenway organization got together and decided to change the road into a tail. They did any exceptional job, and I'm sure it wasn't cheap. The trail is much more aesthetically pleasing compared to the road, and I felt like I was in deep wilderness rather than walking into someone's large parcel of land. Enough of the good stuff---what were they thinking!!
If I wanted a walk in the woods were I had to constantly watch every step so as to not trip over something, or turn my ankle on a softball size rock(of which there are plenty now), I would have hiked Mt Si! The best thing about Mt Teneriffe was the long haul up a steep, flat, crushed gravel road. Letting your mind wander as you sweat out every pore while climbing nearly 7 miles up is the absolute definition of a good time! Sure the road had some problems, but fixing the drainage problems would have been quick and relatively inexpensive compared to changing the entire path. I think the trail is marked for hikers only now. I never rode my mountain bike up/down the hill, but I'm sure those that did will miss the old road.
Anyway, the road is gone and I miss it. The views, however, are still exceptional and certainly worth the long haul up the new trail.
To get to the trailhead--drive past the Mt Si trailhead about a mile to 480 Av Se, and the parking will be on the left. Most of the parking is shared with a school bus turn around. There is no parking in the turn around area during school days from 6am-5pm, but there is still room (away from the turn around) near the gate for about 5-6 cars. You'll need a Discover pass.
For those of you (the two people who read this blog ;)), that haven't been up to the top of Mt Teneriffe, here's a brief description- up.
Here are some pictures of the new trail and views from the top of the world--

Looking East from summit

S/E from summit (Mailbox peak)

N/E

North from summit

Looking west - Mt Si Haystack

S/W- Mt Si on right side

Zoomed in to the east-Cascades

One of two survey markers at top

older survey marker

A few feet down from summit- looking N/E

New trail near top- muddy and soft

Old trail/road to top saddle. Trail now heads south. See next photo

Beginning of new trail to summit

What much of the trail looks like--big rocks and an ATV track

Bandera Mountain

The Ira Spring tail (Mason Lk/Bandera Mtn) starts just off exit 45 near the bottom of Snoqualmie Pass (west side).
Another test of rain gear as I gear-up for my PCT attempt next year. I wore my favorite trail hikers (New Balance 910V1) and expected to get them good and wet...I wasn't disappointed. My test wasn't so much about the shoes, they've already proven themselves, but rather socks. I'm curious if wet thick wool socks keep the feet warmer than mid-weight. I tried heavy socks on a nine mile soggy walk about 2 weeks prior, and was rewarded with a heel blister. To be fair, I wore my old Salomon trail runners. On the Ira Spring trail I wore mid-weight Darn Tough socks, and discovered that thick or mid weight doesn't really matter. Both keep the feet sort of warm. I didn't get any blisters with the Darn Tough socks. I just love getting in the shower and discovering a new skin-rubbed-off location.

I also tested Frogg Toggs ultra light rain suit and a poncho. I'm sure this debate with continue, but a poncho is just so damn easy to throw over everything (hiker and backpack) and for the most part, everything is kept dry. Then there is the air circulation. A rain jacket, Frogg Togg or otherwise, keeps in heat and makes you sweat. I'm guessing for now, the rain jacket wins. I look at my rain jacket as a layer of warmth, the poncho does add a little warmth, but not like the jacket. Then there's the wind and access to water, foot, and other things on my bat belt. The poncho covers this stuff up, and I found out that I drink less water while wearing the poncho because of the difficulty of getting at the water.

Here's a quick review of the hike...
The first 2.8 miles are a total breeze. Some up hill, but who doesn't love a good hill?! The trail was given a good dose of refurbishing about 5-6 years ago right up to the Bandera Mountain cut-off. At 2.8 miles, start heading strait up the ridge towards the top. Big boulders, large steps, and burning calves await! Steep, Steep, steep! I love going up, but down always makes me think of a trip and landing squarely on my face. An improvement would surely result, but ouch. I'm already an accomplished trip-facelander, and my technique can hardly be improved upon...so I'll stop trying. It took me about 45 minutes of serious up to reach the summit. Interesting cloud formations, and then the rain blew sideways. Perfect gear test weather. Here are some pictures...

Looking south towards McClellan Butte

Trail at about 2 miles

Looking west towards Granite Mtn

I-90

Near top of Bandera Mtn

At Bandera Summit

The actual summit

Summit