The Wonderland Trail is about 92 miles long with an accumulated elevation gain of 22,786 feet. Many hikers do a stretch at a time, and this hiker had unfinished business with Summerland.
Earlier this year, snow stopped me and I had to call it quits at Fryingpan Creek, a mile short of Summerland. We returned in August, determined to get to Summerland via the Wonderland Trail. The route is justifiably one of the most beautiful hikes in Mount Rainier National Park, and a sunny day in August guaranteed success.
By Karen Sykes | September 7, 2006
The Snoqualmie Lake Trail No. 1002 is a long haul no matter where you start.
It begins on the Taylor River Road in the Middle Fork Valley near North Bend. Our Mountaineers club group preferred starting there rather than the alternate approach from Dorothy Lake on U.S. Route 2, a long drive.
The Dorothy Lake Trail is easier, but it is still a long walk, putting Snoqualmie Lake just beyond the reach for most day hikers.
By Karen Sykes | August 31, 2006
We prefer trails with solitude but make an exception for trails at Sunrise in Mount Rainier National Park. Here, hikers and non-hikers mingle, all part of the experience because everyone's happy when The Mountain is out.
Some of the best hiking at Sunrise begins on the Sourdough Ridge Trail, whether you are a seasoned backpacker or a first-time visitor seeking a short stroll for unobstructed views of Mount Rainier.
By Karen Sykes | August 24, 2006
You'd better be jolly if you take this hike on a hot day, especially with time constraints. You may find yourself grumbling well before you get to the summit because the trail is anything but good-natured.
Want solitude? If so, this trail is ideal since few hikers tackle it in summer because you have to gain a lot of elevation for views that are more easily gotten from other trails. True, you may run into an occasional horseback rider or motorbike, but I had this multiple-use trail all to myself on a recent day.
By Karen Sykes | August 17, 2006
What's the difference between a tarn and a lake? If you go as far as Wildcat Lakes, you'll get a feel for the difference, because you'll see both.
Webster's dictionary defines a lake as a "considerable body" of standing water and a tarn as a "small, steep-banked mountain lake or pool."
By Karen Sykes | August 3, 2006
As much as I try to resist such adjectives as "best," that shopworn word does describe the hike to Ingalls Lake, a popular destination in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Forgo fancies of solitude, or visit in fall when the tarns freeze and the larch trees turn color. Then it will be cold enough that you may not want to get out of your sleeping bag.
By Karen Sykes | July 20, 2006
Navajo Pass is ideal for that first high-country sojourn when the snow melts out. Even with our early start, the Stafford Creek trailhead was filling up. However, there's more than enough of the sublime Teanaway country to go around and once you leave the trailhead, you won't feel crowded.
The Stafford Creek Trail (No. 1359) is not only popular for its views of the Stuart range but also for wildflowers and variety of terrain, ranging from marshy meadows to serpentine barrens where colorful minerals in the rocks glitter and gaudy flowers glow.
By Karen Sykes | July 13, 2006
If I could bottle up the scent of Robinson Canyon I'd wear it so I'd never forget this place. The canyon is a few miles from Ellensburg and spring was late this year. The area is still sweet with the spice of wild roses, cottonwood trees and ponderosa pine.
By Karen Sykes | July 6, 2006
If you don't mind sharing a trail with horses, this one has much to offer hikers in wildflowers, exercise, views, backpacking and side trips. It's a long drive as the trail is east of Chinook Pass, but there's camping nearby and other trails to explore in the region.
Crow Lake Way Trail No. 953 begins at Fifes Ridge Viewpoint off state Route 410, where there's a knockout view of these peaks and spires. The view is about as good as it gets -- other than tantalizing glimpses from the trail, you won't get another good look at Fifes Peaks until you've worked for it.
By Karen Sykes | June 22, 2006
If you're going to hike in the rain pick a hike for which water is the main attraction and you can't go wrong. An appealing rainy-day hike is Lost Lake via the Greenwater Lakes Trail. There's a lot of water -- the Greenwater River, lakes, streams, lazy rivulets and waterfalls.
By Karen Sykes | June 15, 2006
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