R is for RVenture, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier, 8.25.19-8.28.19, Part 2 of 3
The morning after our St. Helens hike we drove the RV into uncharted territory. I had never been past Randle on Highway 12 and had always wanted to check this area out. Just before Packwood we passed a road I will be taking next week when Greg Dilley and I head to the Goat Rocks Wilderness for a four day backpack trip. Beyond Packwood we headed north to the southeast corner of Mt. Rainier National Park. I actually missed my turn and we first headed up and over White Pass which I had also never been to so I wasn’t too disappointed in my error. We also got a great view of the Goat Rocks from the road up the pass.
Back on track we drove up Chinook Pass and parked just below the top of the pass at Tipsoo Lake. Lower Tipsoo Lake wasn’t anything to write home about but it was the start of a 4.2 mile loop trail known as the Naches Peak Loop. The trail climbed gently above lower Tipsoo Lake and in no time at all we arrived at Chinook Pass. This is actually where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses the highway on its way from Mexico to Canada.
Bridgit the Thru HIker
At Chinook Pass the trail crosses the highway on a wooden overpass, leaving Mt. Rainier National Park and going into the William O. Douglas Wilderness. From there it gently ascends as it goes around the back of Naches Peak on a short section of the PCT.
Can’t pass up a wilderness sign without a photo!
This trail is very popular and we did see quite a few people but it wasn’t crowded. It was just a beautiful day to be hiking and with such lovely scenery all around, we really took our time as we worked our way around Naches Peak to a ridge top.
Western Anemone on Naches Peak
Small almost dried up tarn along the trail
As we topped the ridge and came around to the south side of Naches Peak, Mt. Rainier came into view. It is hard to explain to someone how impressive this mountain is if you have never seen it. Aside from its massive bulk and that it stands all alone, Mt. Rainier is impossible to look at without a sense of awe and reverence.
First view of Rainier on the Naches Peak Loop
The rest of the loop hike is prime viewing as Rainier is right in front of you the entire rest of the way. We wandered through lush green meadows as we wrapped around to the west side of Naches Peak and worked our way towards Upper Tipsoo Lake. Below the towering bulk of Mt. Rainier we could now see a couple of peaks we had climbed over the years. Bridgit and I climbed Tamanos Mountain in 1993 with her sister Cathy. Neighbor Greg and I had climbed Banshee Peak on an outstanding sixteen mile day after hiking through Summerland to Panhandle Gap.
The tall column on the left is called Cowlitz Chimney. The highest peak to its right is Banshee Peak. Tamanos Mountain is the peak touching the right hand ridge of Rainier.
After a very leisurely stroll around the Naches Peak loop we came to Upper Tipsoo Lake. I had heard that this particular lake was a great place to get reflection shots of Mount Rainier but it was too breezy when we arrived. I imagine I would have a better chance at reflection shots there really early in the morning.
Upper Tipsoo Lake
As soon as I arrived at the lake a young girl asked me if I’d seen the bears. Having just arrived I said I hadn’t and she pointed them out to me. It was a mother black bear with her cub on the far end of the lake. I quickly stuffed my pockets with salmon, doused myself with honey and ran towards the bear to get pictures. Haha, crazy as I am, I did not really do that. I did work my way a bit around the lake and got a few photos before they slowly headed further away up the mountainside.
Mmmm, is that salmon I smell?
Bridgit and I are now at five bear sightings this season so far, including our first two cub sightings. Pretty special to see bears in the wild.