Rainier's Grand Park

Glacier Lillies hiding in the shaded areas
 just as you open up into Grand Park.

Did you know that inside this national park there are multiple smaller parks?  There are.  Next time you look at the park's map look out for areas like"Spray Park" and "Grand Park", among others.  These areas of the park are usually flat or rolling hills with few trees.  This time of year these fields are blanketed with wild flowers.  They allow for great views of the mountain itself, while giving you the feeling of being out away from it all.  Most of the areas require some hiking, but it is worth it.  You will skip the hordes of tourists at Paradise and at the same time enjoy the magic one feels in the back country of a national park.

360 degrees atop Grand Park

I started my trip late in the morning just outside the national park.  Forest Service Road 7300, off of Highway 410, takes you just North, about 100 yards, of the park's boarder.  There is a trail at Eleanor Creek that leads into the park and to Lake Eleanor.  This is a great location to swim on hot summer days.  The lake looked very clean and cool, especially for being relatively low in elevation.  If you continue on, as you should, to Grand park you will first come to a small meadow that gives you a small taste of what you are in for.  Then the only really challenging part of the hike climes up to the park.  All of a sudden you turn a corner out of the thinning trees and BAM, the most beautiful view of any mountain you have ever laid eyes on.  Grand Park is unique in that it is a large flat plateau, sitting at 5,600 ft.  There are drop offs on all sides leaving straight through shots to the mountain, almost directly south.  Other areas of the park have dips with little hiding places for snow.  Up on Grand I had the impression I was in a high dessert.  It's openness flat terrain doesn't allow for much vegetation.  There are only two stagnant pools of water on the butte.  So, besides the flowers and pine trees you really aren't going to find much up there.  However, I would built my house here if I could.  Hiking in supplies would be worth having a porch with this view.

270 degrees from newly discovered viewpoint

After spending some time taking pictures and looking around at some other landmarks in view we (my father in law was with me) were about to turn back for the car.  Luckily there were a couple of men that told us of a viewpoint not far down the Wonderland Trail.  After continuing to the southern end of Grand Park we turned right (West) and hiked another quarter of a mile.  the view here was even better than the one from above.  With the Winthrop Glacier right in front of us we could see the entire mountain as we stopped for lunch.  As we made our hike back to the car we informed others of the view, and they were excited to know about it.
This was my third hike in the North of the Mt. Rainier National Park.  All three have been my favorites.  

The Best Gear?

PSP Progression

In Western world that thrives on consumerism we are bombarded (almost every minute) with ads for the next best thing.  A new iPad just came out and if you had one of the old ones you had to have the new one right?  What about the new PSP Vita, "it is so much better than the last model".  Well This kind of thinking doesn't escape the world of camping or backpacking either.

"Why do people like this sport?"

There are a few people making new products for consumers.  They are trying their best to improve products through new technologies and practices.  Nothing wrong with that.  Our civilization would be nowhere without people trying to improve what we have out there.  I mean NASCAR would be even more boring if they were still racing cars from the 20's.
Then there are even fewer people telling which of these new products to buy.  They feed us something like, "it is .02 ounces lighter, therefore worth the extra $75 vs. the other one you are looking at".  There is a little wrong with this, and I can illustrate how.

I recently rediscovered a Stansport brand tent I had purchased when I was in Boy Scouts.  I bought it with my paper route money and used it for many years, never having any problems.  I think I spent about $90 at a store that sells everything (but not W-Mart).  At some point it disappeared.  I went looking for it in my parents garage one time and no one knew where it had gone.  Then the other day I was visiting and was taking quick stock of the gear my dad had held onto.  There it was, the tent, in it's torn blue stuff sack.  It was on the shelf right were I had left it about 10 years earlier.  I grabbed it, and threw it in the truck.  When I got it home I did a rapid set up (I could still set that thing up in the dark if I had to), just to take inventory to make sure all the pieces were present.  It was a little faded and smelled a little musky (dew to my little brother not airing it out properly after using a couple weeks back), but was in great shape.  I'm going to give it a good washing in Nikwax brand detergent to add some water proofing and it will probably be better than new.

So the point to the story is the so called "best" gear isn't always the best gear.  I want to make it clear that I don't blame companies producing gear for their prices.  They have the right to price items any way they feel they need to (and in most cases I feel they are completely justified in their pricing models).  I will just be a little more weary of what I read in magazines and on certain websites about some of the stuff that is out there.  When I buy a high priced item I truly expect it to last 20+ years, however, this teal blue tent is making me think twice about how I make purchases.


Mediocre minds think alike: visit mountainmanami.blogspot.com for a similar article on elitism in the outdoor sporting community.

Trail Report: Rattlesnake Mountain

Rattlesnake Mountain is and has been a very popular trail for years.  I had never heard of it before moving back to Washington a few months ago.  Even learning of a new trail that was close by I wasn't too excited about hiking on it.  My in-laws used to hike to the ledge quite a bit, they are actually how I first heard of the trail.  Then my father wanted to hike the last of the Issaquah Alps and this was it.  He had gone a couple of weeks earlier, with my brother, and hiked to the first ledge.  They started at Rattlesnake Lake on the South end of the trail.  This is where most people hike, including my in-laws.   It is no surprise why, the three ledges that protrude out of the side of the mountain offer great views of the upper Snoqualmie Valley.  On a clear day you can see all the way to Mt. Baker to the North.
So, I got excited about this trail and headed out on a Saturday morning with my dad.  We decided it would be more worth while to through hike the trail.  Starting at one end, leaving a car, then driving to the other end to start the hike.  We would have to drive back to the second car at the end of the trip, however keeps the trail fresh all the way through.  It can be pretty rare to hike a through trail on a day hike.  There are many routes on Tiger Mountain and Cougar that allow for through hikes, those mountains have a spider web of trails on them though.  Rattlesnake has one trail, so you can hike to a point and then hike back or you can through hike.  We decided to start at the North end of the trail.  There is a very nice trail head parking lot and rest room right off of the freeway.  My car was left at Rattlesnake Lake for the return.
We started on the trail and were making pretty good progress.  It was at about a mile in that I realized I had left my car keys in my dads vehicle.  If I hadn't checked my pocket for my keys before getting to my car we would have had to hike back, call for more keys, or hitch hike to the car at the other end of the trail.  So, we turned around and went back to the starting point.  It added 2 extra miles to our 10 mile trail.  Surprisingly though didn't add much time to the planned duration of the hike.
The trail itself is pretty.  Starting at the northern trail head you walk in and out of some logged out sections of forest.  Then under some power lines, and back into the dense forest.  Being a winter hike (February) we hit some snow at around 2,100 ft.  It was this time we came to a look out that sees over the towns of North Bend and Snoqualmie.  The snow was crusted over on the top layers, making for a slick route.  We practically post holed our way to the 2,100 ft. mark on the decent.  Also, at about this elevation the clouds rolled in and things started to get very cold.  We moved fast to stay warm, but had to put on hats, gloves, and rain jackets to stay warm and dry.  While under the conifer umbrella above us we kept good pace in the snow. At the summit we didn't get the view we wanted.  Because the snow was so deep (and so few people had been on the trail in the snow) we didn't find our way to the true summit.  However the radio towers at the top were close enough for us.
The trek down is continues through the trees, I thought thicker on the south eastern face.  This is the side of the mountain that gets the most foot traffic.  The views are better and quicker.  We did come across a few people as we descended, in contrast to being alone on out ascent.
I would recommend this trail for families that want to spend a day on the trail, but expect a lot of traffic in the spring to summer months.

View Rattlesnake Mountain in a larger map

View Rattlesnake Mountain in a larger map

Difficulty: Moderate

Fees:  None if you park at the Southeast trail head at Rattlesnake Lake.  Discovery Pass at the Northern trail head.

DIY: Pocket Stove Wind Screen

There are many DIY projects out there that can improve the comfort and function of your camp.  Last summer when in the Yellowstone backcountry for three days I ran out of fuel near the last night.  The only form of water purification we had been using was to boil our water, this was due to filter failures.  It would have been great if there was a way to keep our one large can of fuel going for an extra few minutes of burn time.  
My idea isn't a new one.  The product isn't a new one.  However I have decided a few ounces of foil tape ($3.50 at local hardware store) are a small price to pay for increased fuel efficiency on my stove.  The idea is that the screen blocks wind from blowing the concentrated flame off your pot or pan.  Thus allowing more heat where it is meant, under the pot and on your food or water.
To construct the wind screen I used one roll of reflective tape found in the roofing section of the hardware store.  I started by measuring the diameter I needed cut pieces to length.  I then stacked the pieces over lapping about 1/4".  This created a one layered flat large piece of tape (at this point one side is exposed adhesive).  I then cut the same amount of pieces and put them (adhesive side) down on the existing piece.  This gave me a double thick piece of foil.  For reinforcement there is an extra piece folded over the top and bottom.  I then connected the ends with about an inch of over lap and taped then all the way around.  As you can see the height of the wind block is just higher than the stove, allowing you to monitor the flame, but still keeps the majority of wind out.  It also allows for venting air.
Now you won't want to forget about the adjustment on the side of the stove.  I chose the location for this after building the screen so that I would get a perfect height for the hole.  My hole is two inches in diameter, allowing for a thumb and finger in to turn the handle.  When using the stove with the screen you will want to keep this hole down wind.
So if you have a simple stove and want to save yourself $15+ this a great project that only takes a few minutes of your time.  The screen can fold up into your bear can or mess kit and should last a while, depending on how careful you are with it.

Trail Report: Pinnacle Peak

Monday I didn't have any work and the weather in Western Washington was amazing.  60+ degrees for a week in February doesn't happen very often.  I had one day to use the good fortune, that was spread through out the region, on a trail.  I was looking for something fairly short and simple.  Nothing too taxing or very secluded (my wife doesn't like me hiking alone).  So to make my decision easier I jumped onto the King County Natural Resources and Parks site and started looking for trails.  I had done the Cougar Mountain trail and have done other trails on that hill, it didn't really interest me.  I found one in Enumclaw.  It promised views of Mt. Rainier on the site so I decided it would be worth the drive to get there.  The location was a bit farther than I wanted but the trail seemed to intrigue me.  It is a short trail, only about a mile, but it is strenuous.  

From the pull off at the side of the road, were a dozen or more cars were parked, you start up on switch backs.  The climb is 1,000ft. in a mile.  I didn't drink enough water that morning, and started cramping, but was glad to have the work out.  Being the day after the Super Bowl I was also blaming all the junk food I had eaten the day before.  However, the weather was perfect, and the trail is almost completely covered by the canopy of old Fir and Cedar trees, meaning shade.  While the work out was worth it, the view was not.  If there ever was a view it is now obstructed by too many trees growing too tall.  You get glimpses of the valley floor as you climb but the summit has no view at all.

Though it made for a safe location to 'solo hike' (I use the term loosely), I don't see any reason for me to return.  If I lived within 5 miles of the hill that sticks up out of the valley like a thumb I would hike it all the time.  I don't, and therefore I won't.

 

View Pinnacle Peak, Enumclaw Wa in a larger map

Directions:  Use the map for directions, However there are two trail heads.  The second is on the south side of the hill that starts up a private road.

Fees: None, this one is a county park.

Difficulty Moderate-Difficult (however short)

Two Summits One Day: Cougar and Squak Mountains

Thursday I went out with my father, Dale, and my brother, Gregg.  We wanted to tackle two of the smaller peaks near our homes.  Growing up less than five minutes from these hills and never took the time to summit on either one.  There are many trails on both mountains, and one could spent all day exploring.  Gregg even improved sections of trail on Squak for his Eagle Project.

The two peaks are only separated by the narrow May Creek Valley, that has State Route 900 running through it, connecting Renton and Issaquah.  Since the hills are very close together (there is actually a connector trail you can take to hike on both mountains with out getting back in the car if you want, we didn't take the connector) it is very easy to summit both in just a long morning.  We started at the trailhead of Cougar Mountain at 8:30 and finished around 11:30 back at the car after summiting Squak.

Cougar Mountain
We chose to start at the Wilderness Creek Trailhead.  It is located on SR 900.  The trail allows two great options for a summit.  You can see from my GPS recorded tracks that we took one trail up and the second down.  This is actually Wilderness Peak in fact.  The true Cougar Mountain is just to the North.  However for locals all the peaks in the park are considered Cougar Mountain, this is why we chose to summit Wilderness Peak as it is the highest.

The summit has no view, making the trip a little anti climatic.  However there is a nice bench to sit on and a home made registrar to sign.  There was a small glimpse of Mt. Rainier on the way down.  Nothing that makes the trip a "must do" however.
I am glad I did this relatively short hike.  It is a great one to tackle in the winter when the rain isn't falling.  These hills almost never get snow and can be tackled any time of year.

View Cougar Mountain in a larger map

Getting There:  See map for best directions

Difficulty:  Easy-Moderate

Fees:  None 

Squak Mountain
With only the short few minutes in the car for rest we, all three, headed over to the trail head to summit Squak Mountain.  Like Cougar Mountain there are many ways to get the the top of Squak.  I would say the most popular is from the State Park parking lot off of SE May Valley Road.  Most of Squak Mountain is a State Park.  There are horse trails and hiking trails.  One service road to the top is a popular route but is closed to public vehicles, it does however make for a smooth, easy going, trail.  We chose to cheat a little bit.  By this time Gregg was having some semi serious pains in his knew, but wanted to finish with the hikes we had planned.  Therefore we drove up to a trailhead on the North side of the mountain that starts at 740 ft.  This saved us from climbing an extra 400 ft.
We took the Bullitt Access Trail to the Central Peak Trail to the summit. Unlike Cougar, with its rolling terrain, this trail was pretty much climbing the entire time.  One interesting part of Squak Mt. is the human history.  The Bullitt family settled on the hill in the early 1900's and there are still remains.  We past by these as well, heading straight to the top for the sake of Gregg's knee.

View Squak Mountain in a larger map

One awesome part of hiking with Gregg was that he informed me of a free program from Microsoft.  It is called PhotoSynth and allows anyone to make great panoramas and synths from multiple photos.  The panorama below is of the veiwless peak on Squak.  I can't wait to get out to other, more impressive places to use this program with.

Getting There:  See map for best directions

Difficulty:  Easy-Moderate

Fees:  Discovery Pass or $10 day pass if parking at the State Park, No fee if park at the trail head on Mountainside Drive SW (location we used)

Trail Report: Twin Falls

Since moving back to the Seattle area I have been overwhelmed with all the options I have for getting out and on the trail.  Most of the Christmas break I spent with family.  Luckily I married into a family that enjoys the outdoors.  On New Years Eve a few of us went on a leisurely hike to Twin Falls, inside Twin Falls State Park.

The trail to the falls is fairly easy, and not very long.  This makes it a very popular trail for families and people with dogs.  There were a few dozen people on the trail during the time we were there.  Even with all the crowds (the day we went wasn't really that busy) this trail is very fun.  There are old growth trees, a raging river (in Summer months when the water is low it is perfect for letting the kids play in the water), multiple water falls with multiple view points, large boulders the size of cars to climb on, and tons of plant life to admire.

One great thing about this hike is it connects to other trails.  It can be used as a trail head to climb Mt. Catherine and also connects to the Iron Horse Trail.

Getting There: From Seattle head East on I-90, take exit 34, turn right onto 468th Ave SE, turn left on SE 159 Street, drive to the end of the rod to trail head parking.

Difficulty: Easy

Fees: Discovery Pass or $10 one day pass (purchased at drop box at trail head)