Snow And Rain Make Hiking "Fun" TR

“Rainrunner, Ford and me headed up to Rainier early this morning, and met up with Catzia at Longmire. Our plan was to do a one way hike of Van Trump Park....but as we drove up, we had a number of cars coming downhill covered in snow. Ok......snow level was supposed to be at 6,000 ft.
But we set off, in dumping rain. Umbrellas and GTX Paclite I love ;-)
As we got higher we could see the trees dusted in white above us:


We finally called it a day as we got into slush...we had had a good hike, but it was getting a lot colder, so we ended up doing an in and out. Ah well....good company and I wasn't at work ;-)

And all that rain was letting the creeks run finally!



Last but not least...the drowned gang, after the final creek crossing...
”

“snow already!! Nice pic of the creek with the 2 falls”

“I forgot to put the name..those are Christine Falls :-) You can actually see a lower version of them from the road going up to Paradise at Rainier :-) Which is cool they were running, as a couple weeks ago they were about nil.
I am wondering about this year in the Cascades in WA state...it is very cold the last 2 weeks. Maybe we will end this drought!!”

“I did the wonderland last year, this same time of year. It was raining buckets then too - most all day, and every day. The Mowich was uncrossable just before I got to it - all the while meeting people who'd turned around, and many of the other crossings were dangerous to attempt too.

When I got 'cross the Mowich via a diversion, a lightening / hail storm the likes of which would put a sprite into any hikers' step came along.

Good for you coming down, unless you're geared up and otherwise prepared for disagreeable weather conditions.

I see ya got'chur rain jackets on!:) Yet, I don't know about you, but I start missing that place directly right after the first pizza out. It really is a wonderland.

N.B. thanks for posting the photos”

“We did the Wonderland last summer, I think 2cnd week of August, and we had fabu weatehr-hot, dry, sunny...and everyone else who did it in late August or early September was drenched. Ugh!
I felt very sorry for anyone doing the WT today ;-)
But, even in rain, I still love being at Rainier! It is just what it is :-)”