Mount Rainier National Park (Day 2 - Part I)

July 4, 2009 :- The park ranger had referred to Panorama Point (located at 6800 ft) as a point to go to in order to view the other big volcanoes that can be seen South of Mount Rainier. I decided to take the trail to Panorama Point via the High Skyline Trail which is a 5.5 mile round trip allowing one to gain an elevation of 1700 ft that takes an average of 4.5 hours to complete. The trail begins at the parking lot at Paradise Inn. I began early in the day around 9 am after having breakfast at the small eatery at Paradise Inn.

A bus belonging to Rainier Mountaneering Inc. stopped right then with more than a dozen climbers going along the same hike. The trail begins through mounds of soft snow with areas that have exposed paved pathways. The snow was soft and hence although a bit slippery allowed one to get a grip even after a slight slip. The first 0.82 miles took one to Alta Vista point which is a rigde that offers views of the twin peaks to the South. A brief halt allowed me to get some rest and click a few photographs.

A hiking trail then takes one towards the Skyline trail but for some reason I decided to follow two individuals who went straight up towards the ridge. A few climbers with snow boots, crampons, ski poles took the hiking trail and seemed to have been stuck in sticky area a short distance away. The path straight up the ridge seemed pretty steep, which under normal circumstances I could have hiked to, with ease. The snow however made things difficult and it took some doing to get to the top of the ridge.

The next mile to Glacier Vista (located at 6336 ft) was pretty easy except for a few patches of snow. 7 out of 10 hikers were all geared up to go beyond Panorama Point to higher areas through Muir Snowfield that stretches from 7000 ft to 10000 ft. It is a permanent field of snow, ice and rock outcrops. In case the weather deteriorates crossing the Muir snowfield can be disastrous. In case of fog or clouds one is advised to desend back to Paradise rather than continue to head towards the top of Mount Rainier. On crossing the snowfield one gets to Camp Muir that can accommodate a substantial number of hikers for an overnight halt. The first clear view of Mount Adams, Mount Hood and Mount St Helens (the one that erupted recently in 2006) was seen from this point. The top of Mount Rainier appeared closer but is was still amazing 8000 ft higher up.

Panorama Point is 500 t higher and just about 0.68 mils away from Glacier Vista. The area for some reason was devoid of snow with patches of open land and a few meadows around it. There was an open area with rocks and an ocassional bench allowing hikers to rest and have a snack. I had left my snack back at the hotel. I was carrying my bulky camcorder, the digital camera, a warm dress (that was actually not required despite the snow) and a bottle of water.

The Skyline trail then continues over a small hill 300 ft higher up from where one can proceed higher to the Muir snowfield. The high Skyline trail however traverses along that height across the mountain and slowly descends long the mountainside. The area had few patches where the snow had melted away exposing the first few patches of meadows. Along the way was a sno covered area but fortunately the trail passed higher over that area and descended slowly along the hillside.

Mount Rainier National Park (Day 1)

July 2nd, 2009 - Mount Rainier National Park (MRNP) is less than 1oo miles away from Seattle, Washington. Having arrived at Seattle, late the previous night, I left for MRNP only around 9 am. Mount Rainier is an active volcano, 14411 ft high (2.7 miles) and thus the highest and the third most voluminous one in the Cascade Mountain range. The Cascade range spreads from Washington to Norther California, along the West Coast. It is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous US and has 26 different glaciers around its periphery. The summit has two craters each about 1000 feet in diameter. I approached the park from the North East entrance.

Having left straight from office the previous night, I had to buy a pair of good shoes and some warm clothes on the way. The first full view of the magnificent mountain was seen right after the entrance. The glaciers towards the North side are quite expansive and have not been shrinking as rapidly as some of the others.

Cayuse Pass (4694 ft) and Chinook Pass (5432 ft) have pretty good views. Tipsoo Lake along highway 410 was frozen and seemed to be just begun melting in early summer.

I had not received a park map and unintentionally moved along that way towards the East and out of the park. The drastic change in elevation and vegetation gave me quite a warning but the road seemed to be heading South. Having lost 30 minutes and much more ($), due to this mishap I returned back and checked with a ranger about the right directions. The trip seemed to have begun on a wrong note. More was to follow, as the shorter route to Paradise was closed due to bad road conditions following the winter damage. This was to cost a further 2.5, hours as I had to head 25 miles South to Packwood , then 23 miles West to Ashford and 12 miles to Paradise along curved roads. A quick stop at a gas station at Packwood allowed me to fill up gas (I was not open to any more disasters), grab some food and head ahead.

The area around Longmire at the entrance has National Park Inn and a thickly forested area with a camground or two. Along the way are Carter Falls (2.2 mile round trip from the road), Christine Falls and Narada Falls.

Carter Falls

Christine Falls

Narada Falls

One then crosses the Nisqually river, on a high bridge along a wide river bed that once carried lahar (volcanic slushy material) at the time of the last eruption more than a century back. Only a century back the Nisqually Glacier was way down, closer to the bridge and is hence one that has been receeding unlike any other glacier on the mountain.

A few stops at viewpoints along the way then took me to the Paradise Inn located at 5400 ft just at the base where the steep 9000 ft climb to Mount Rainier begins. After having checked in at the hotel, I went along a short 0.5 mile trail to Myrtle Falls. The area was more or less completely covered in snow (soft). I was told that only the last 10 days had opened up the paved paths in patches. The views in all directions were fantastic and trails in snow were certainly something that added to the thrill.

A light dinner at Paradise Inn, was followed by a 45 minute Evening program by a park ranger. It had been a while since I had experienced sunset at 9 pm and dusk at 10 pm. Although, not too tired I had to call it a day, since I knew what the plan next day was going to be ....

http://picasaweb.google.com/ahire.parag/MountRainierNPSeattle?authkey=Gv1sRgCKSYyuXylJ2kxgE&feat=directlink

Mount Woodson, Poway

June 2, 2008 :- It was the last day of Nihar & Varsha's trip to the US in April-May 2008. I decided to take Nihar and Varsha for a hike to Mount Woodson in Poway. I had done the hike from Lake Poway to the top but knew that Nihar/Varsha would not be up for it along that way as it is quite streneous that way. We parked the car on Highway 67 from where the walk to the top is between 1 and 2 miles.

The road passes besides some private properties but then we get to a paved road that leads straight to the top. Nihar was completely against the hike having walked around quite a bit the previous day in Disneyland. Also, we had done quite some hiking in San Diego and at Zion/Bryce National Parks in the past one month. He reluctantly walked along the paved road but ultimately we made it to the top in about 1 hour. The queer shaped rock at the top is a must see.

On the way down we passed some kids that had basic rock climbing equipment with them.

We walked down casually and made it home in the late afternoon hours on a rather hot day. A stop by the local Smoothie King was a must.

Canyonlands National Park (Day 2)

Nov 17th, 2008 :- The Needles district is located about 65 miles South of Moab. As one approaches the area the first point to stop by is the Newspaper Rock that has ancient pertoglyphs. Such pictured rocks cannot be dated esily, neither do we really know the significance of these pictures.

As one comes closer to the entrance of the park ones comes across the North and South Sixshooter peaks that are shaped like pistols.

The Needles is a startling landscape of colorful sculptured rock spires, arches, canyons and potholes. The Needles are rock pinnacles carved in red and white. Chesler Park is a grassy meadow amidst the Needles and is a 3 mile hike (oneway) from Elephant Hill. The confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers is located within this district but is only acessible by a 4.5 mile (oneway) hike or a short hike having approached closer along a 4*4 dirt road.

Short hikes at Cave Spring, Pothole point are easily accessible and provide a closer glimpse of the formations that might turn into Neeldes in the centuries to come.

I took the hike to Chesler Park to get closer to the Needles. It was however a lonely walk , and I turned around at the 1.75 mile mark having had a closer enough look of the Needles but did not get really close enough. The drive to Elephant Hill itself is along an unpaved road that has quite a few blind turns.

Canyonlands National Park (Day 1)

Nov 16, 2008 :- Canyonlands National Park is composed of three distinct districts "Island in the Sky", "The Needles" and "The Maze". The former two districts are easily accessible by paved road and are located to the North West and South West of Moab, UT respectively.

"Island in the Sky" is an area separated from the mainland by a small connecting ridge, about 40 m wide known as "The Neck". The Green River and the Colorado River converge in the park within the Needles district. The three districts are located between and around the two rivers separated by the rivers at the confluence.

The "Island in the Sky" district is about 35 miles from Moab. It is the observation deck of the park and provides expansive vistas from the Grand View Point Overlook. 1200 feet below one can see the White Rim a continuous sandstone beach. Another 1000 feet below lie the rivers shadowed by sheer cliffs. 17 miles of paved road take one to various observation points in the park in the "Island in the Sky" District. The Grand View Point Overlook provides a greater than 180 degree view of the White Rim, the Needles and the Maze. The Colorado river itself lies hidden beneath the White Rim amidst several nooks and turns of canyon land.

Shafer Canyon Overlook lies just beyond "The Neck" provides a first glimpse of the White Rim Road. It is 100 miles of unpaved road leading to the lower level along the White Rim.

The Mesa Arch lies just beyond Gray's Pasture, that streches for about 6 miles beyond "The Neck".

Whale Rock is a short walk by the road on the way towards Upheavel Dome. Upheavel Dome is a 1500 feet deep crater formed by slowmoving salt deposits that pushed sandstone upwards. There are two observation points here requiring a 1.6 mile hike to and fro to get to both points.


The Green River Overlook provides a view of the Green River in the distance that flows southwards to join the Colorado coming in from the North East.

Buck Canyon Overlook provides good views of the canyon formations above the White Rim.

Grand View Point Overlook is the place to be at sunset. A 1 mile trail along the rim provides good views Southwards and at one extreme towards the West. Closeby another 1.4 mile trail towards the West takes one down below to the White Rim.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ahire.parag/CanyonlandsNationalPark?authkey=Gv1sRgCMLN84_EjfOW9wE&feat=directlink