Rainier Vacation - Part 4 Shadow lake loop

Day 4
Part 4 of our Rainier camping & hiking vacation.

If you'd like to catch up with our Rainier vacation you can read -

 Part 1 our camp at White River campground HERE 

 Part 2 Owyhigh lakes hike HERE

 Part 3 Shadow lake loop hike HERE. 

Again our spirits were buoyed by a glorious blue sky when we woke and a great view of Rainier from our. White River campground campsite.

We decided to drive up to the Sunrise visitor center parking lot and hike around Shadow lake.Shadow lake. We stopped at a tourist pullout to read about the Columnar Andesite along the road.

We also stopped at Sunrise point to check out the views. It overlooks the Palisades lake trail. This is one we would like to do on another trip. When we looked up at the hill in front of us, we saw lots of white dots so we got out our binoculars and sure enough they were mountain goats.

Sunrise lake

If you zoom in to enlarge the photo below you will see many mountain goats on this hillside.

When we got to the parking lot, we noticed there was a dusting of snow. It was a bit chilly but not too bad. We put extra layers to wear in our day packs and headed to the visitor center.

Flowers in the snow.

Examining the wonderful 3-D map of Rainier and it's trails.

Our hike to Emmons Moraine in my Part 3 post overlooked the lake in this visitor center display. I learned more about "Kettles" here.

Off to the Shadow lake loop.

A couple of deer along the service road.

A light rain began to fall and we heard a thunder roll in the distance.

The light rain turned to sleet and then snow.

Check out the before and after pictures of the parking lot from our day. When we returned to the parking lot it was a different world. We began calling this week the "time that July turned into October". After our hot summer, we really didn't expect this. Soo glad we brought clothing for whatever weather we might have.

Total miles hiked - 2.5 miles

Maximum altitude - 6400 feet

Mount Rainier Vacation Part 3 - Emmons Glacier & Glacier Basin

Day 3
Part 3 of our Rainier camping & hiking vacation. 

If you'd like to catch up with our Rainier vacation trip you can read about -

Part 1 our camp at White River HERE

Part 2 Owyhigh Lakes hike HERE.

The day dawned with a wonderful blue sky, I walked around the campground loop to get some pictures. This is the hill just across the river and behind us.

I looked up towards Mt. Rainier and sure enough I could see Emmons Glacier and a bit of Rainier.

We decided to hike the Emmons Moraine trail and then continue up the Glacier Basin trail.

Heading across the "prepared log" :-) bridge towards the Moraine. 

If you read the Part 1 Owyhigh post you'll see why I added a winky face.

We learned about "Kettles" at the Sunrise Visitor center. The lake below is a Kettle. A kettle is where a large block of glacier broke free and melted to form a lake.

Looking at the base of Emmons Glacier.

It was such a nice warm section to hike, the sun felt sooo good while we stopped for a lunch break.

Then on to the Glacier Basin trail. The clouds moved in and it started raining shortly after we got back at the trail junction that led on up to the basin.

I appreciated the log steps going up to the camp.

When we arrived at the camp, there was bear activity information posted. These signs are usually posted in the back country,

We walked out into the opening of the basin, hoping for some views, but visibility was not so good We could see the ridge that led to Camp Schurman, but that was about it. It was beginning to sleet and get cold, so we headed back.

Dinner at a soggy campsite.

Thank goodness, he brought umbrella's. Little did we know how handy they would be.

Total miles hiked - 8 miles

Total ascent - 2100 feet

Maximum altitude - 5,800 feet