Mount Rainier National Park, WA
Aug 31 - Sep 7, 2019 -- $1350 ★★★★, Only 2 Spots Left
The beauty of Mt. Rainier National Park
will leave you speechless. Whether it's the alpine lakes, temperate rainforest full of ancient conifers,
charismatic megafauna, redolent lupines and other wildflowers, active glaciers, wild berry picking,
or the massive monolithic mountain itself, Mt. Rainier is simply awe-inspiring.
Mt. Rainier National Park awards
only 5 commercial backpacking permits every year.
Fitpacking has been awarded one of them, so this is one of your few chances to participate in a guided backpacking trip
to this destination.
This trip will traverse the Eastern portion of the famed Wonderland Trail
and other parts of the park that are seldom traveled. On our 6-day hike, we may encounter elk,
deer, eagles, pikas, black bear, mountain goats and marmots with a backdrop of incredible sweeping vistas
and even an active glacier.
Experience the timeless wonder of Mt. Rainier with us during the fleeting, relatively dry and bug free temperate season.
Our journey will begin in the Southeast of the park at the Ohanpecosh Campground, where thermal
activity percolates warm water from the ground.
We’ll leave civilization behind as we head up Ollalie Creek and embark upon the Wonderland Trail.
The perpetually snowy Rainier summit will be our constant companion to the West as we traverse the
rain shadow of this amazing wilderenss. (Note: It may still rain of course). We then go to
Indian Bar, Summerland and into White River before heading up to see a glacier at Glacier Basin.
See a Seattle Times articles about the Wonderland Trail
(Article 1,
Article 2)
Weather
Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the 60s
and nighttime temperatures in the 40s. However, be prepared for the possibility of overnight temperatures as
low as the 20s. During the 2008 trip, we woke up to several inches of snow on September 1st. By the
afternoon however, it had all melted and by September 2nd (the next day) we were swimming in an alpine lake
(although not for very long).
View 7 day weather forecast
Trip Leaders
Holly Chambers
Miles Gordon
Cost
$1350 per person double occupancy.
Here, double occupancy means that you will share a
room with another participant during the 2 hotel nights. You will also be responsible for
transportation to and from Seattle / Sea-Tac (SEA), personal equipment, restaurant meals
eaten off the trail and any gratuities for guides.
Covered expenses include 2 hotel nights, 6 days of trail meals, ground transportation, Park
entrance fees, National Park permits, insurance, satellite phone, and 2 awesome guides.
Important Notes
This is our proposed route. The actual route will be determined by the Mt Rainier backcountry office sometime
in the Spring. We may be awarded a reverse route or a route on another part of the mountain. That said,
almost everywhere on Mt Rainier is beautiful.
Although we are allowed a group size of up to 12, the National Park only allows us to have 6 tents. If our group
size is larger than 6, we must start doubling up in tents. Even though this forced closeness sounds
unpleasant, it does make pack weight lighter and was not a problem at all on the 2015 trip.
Mt. Rainier is one of Fitpacking's more difficult, advanced, and rewarding trips. Daily hiking distances are
moderate and the terrain is well groomed and well maintained, however very little of it is level. Most days
are spent either ascending or descending thousands of feet, sometimes both. Furthermore, the mountain
"makes its own weather" meaning that there could be high winds, rain or even snow at any time. Of course, it
could also be sunny and crystal clear. And then there are the blueberries...
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