Posted by Zack Clothier on July 16, 2013 at 12:37 PM
I am planning a trip to Rainier sometime around the first week in August, still trying to decide on the dates. Based on reports I have heard there are some avalanche and glacier lilies starting to pop up around Paradise Meadows but the full bloom is still a few weeks away, with 65-100% snowpack on much of the trails still. Has anyone been there recently that can collaborate these reports?
Also, I'm looking for suggestions on camping in the area? Backcountry stuff would be fine as well, not sure how easy permits are to obtain?
Sorry for all the questions, this will be my first visit to Rainier.
This is from a photographer I corresponded with on July 1:
"Thought you would be interesting knowing that I spoke with Julie Johnson -- the park media person --and she tells me that it is unusually warm there and that the wildflowers may be a week or two early this year."
Things might have changed since then, but I'd say that your first week of August is probably a good bet for Paradise, maybe a tiny bit late for the Sunrise area.
In my experience, backcountry camping is not going to give you any advantage, or get you any closer (time-wise) to the Paradise area than Cougar Rock Campground. Best bet if you don't have a reservation is to get to the campground around 10am to snag a site as others check out. Same for the White River Campground near Sunrise and Ohanapecosh in the southeast corner of the Park.
In the NW corner of MRNP, there is walk-in camping at Mowich Lake at the Spray Park trailhead. Again, your best bet is to get there fairly early in the day to get a site, then spend the afternoon shooting. There is good backcountry camping close to Spray Park, but you'll have to get a permit at the Carbon River ranger station during normal business hours.
Some photographers have said that they've gotten erroneous info regarding the wildflower bloom from the rangers and volunteers at Rainier visitor centers. That has not been my experience at all, and I encourage you to ask every time you go to a visitor center, meet a ranger or encountrer a backcountry patrol person - they've pinpointed good locations for me on several visits.
This is a shot from half thawed Upper Tipsoo Lake 3 Sundays ago. Still a lot of snow up there at 5,400 feet, but I did see some lupines and paintbrush on the sides of the road. Some bear grass as well. I'm guessing the wildflowers will be nice by the time you get up here Zack.
I know it’s not a big help, but I like to check in on the Paradise webcam to watch the snow melt. It looks like the snow has just melted in the past week.
It looks like the last week in July and the fist in August might be nice. I wish I could go.
Posted by Dennis Plank on July 20, 2013 at 10:33 PM
Zack: I don't have any up to date information, but you can usually get very recent data by checking the Washington Trails Association website: http://www.wta.org/ It's a great resource for almost anywhere in the state.
Just returned from Paradise area on Mt Rainier. I shot there on July 24, 25, and 26. It was my first time there, so I can't compare to prior years. There were only very scattered wildflowers on the trail to Myrtle Falls and around Reflection Lakes even fewer, with large patches of snow still on the lakes trail. It was unremittingly sunny. All and all disappointing; I didn't get any "keeper" shots. The following was taken just below Myrtle Falls. These red flowers, lupines, and the white starburst flowers (don't know their name) were the most common.
Just saw a few shot's from Arnab Banerjee he took up at Spray Park. The glacier and avalanche lilies are in full bloom! I also saw another couple of shots my friend Don Geyer took at Chinook Pass on the Naches Peak Trail. The lupine and paintbrush look to be coming along quite nicely!
Thanks for the updates guys, it's been a big help. I'll be in Rainier from Aug 7-14th, probably stay in the Cougar Rock campground for a few nights then I don't know where I'll be, maybe the backcountry.
Zach,last Sat I was up at Chinook Pass and did the Naches Peak Loop trail... avalanche lilies were at their peak...fair to good year for lupine and Indian paint. No snow. Also visited Sunrise...blah... nothing yet...and uncertain if it can be salvaged with today's rains. Lastly, a friend hiked the loop (16 miles and plenty of topo) from Mowich to Spray Park to Carbon River to Ipsut Creek and back to Mowich. Spray Park ...no snow on trail...well almost none...just a tad near the top before the downslope to Carbon R. Flowers and tarns were avg. Again, a touch of rain may help. Snow has been melting FAST. As in 10-12 inch loss per day...per ranger on trail. I think your timing is perfect. Happy Hunting!
Latest... a friend went to Paradise for the wildflowers... and it too was blah... I guess you can try for singlets...a few roadside patches. This is not what we had hoped for... I grabbed my wife this morning...to do a hike...before they all wilt with next weeks expected warming trend. Already the avalanche lilies have pooped out compared to a week ago.
Posted by Greg Vaughn on August 4, 2013 at 12:32 AM
You should hit up Olympic regardless! Here's a quick shot from Tipsoo Lake yesterday morning. Not a great image, plain bland sky, but you can get an idea of what the meadows are looking like. A lot of lupine and anemone, but not as much painbrush as I'd like so far.
Posted by Zack Clothier on August 6, 2013 at 3:15 PM
Joe, based on your experience in that area would you recommend Olympic over Rainier? If it's not really a good year for wildflowers I don't mind trying again next year and heading up to Olympic instead. Shi Shi Beach looks nice, thinking about a possible backpacking trip in there, also looking at Ruby Beach and the Hoh Rain Forest. Does this sound like a decent itinerary?
Sounds pretty good to me Zack. I answered the email you sent me in more detail. No matter what you do, you can't go wrong. A lot of great stuff to work with around here!
Steve Lepenske and I went to Spray Park yesterday. The heat is melting snow at a fast...fast pace. In 10 days the trail has converted from a snow field to bare ground. Avalanche lilies were terrific esp in ravines and shady slopes. Good for a nother 3-5 days...and the heat will burn them. The Indian paint, lupine, heather, and shooting stars were nominal....sparse or in small clumps. Snow melt tarns varied from adequate at upper Spray Park where snow is still along the shore...and others in the lower areas where the water level is already receding.
One thing for certain ...it was beautiful ...sunny, pleasant, w/a few mosquitos...bring the bug-juice and sun screen. One brown bear near the trail.. a few elk and deer on the Mowich road in the early morning drive.
Discussion
17 repliesAlso, I'm looking for suggestions on camping in the area? Backcountry stuff would be fine as well, not sure how easy permits are to obtain?
Sorry for all the questions, this will be my first visit to Rainier.
"Thought you would be interesting knowing that I spoke with Julie Johnson -- the park media person --and she tells me that it is unusually warm there and that the wildflowers may be a week or two early this year."
Things might have changed since then, but I'd say that your first week of August is probably a good bet for Paradise, maybe a tiny bit late for the Sunrise area.
In my experience, backcountry camping is not going to give you any advantage, or get you any closer (time-wise) to the Paradise area than Cougar Rock Campground. Best bet if you don't have a reservation is to get to the campground around 10am to snag a site as others check out. Same for the White River Campground near Sunrise and Ohanapecosh in the southeast corner of the Park.
In the NW corner of MRNP, there is walk-in camping at Mowich Lake at the Spray Park trailhead. Again, your best bet is to get there fairly early in the day to get a site, then spend the afternoon shooting. There is good backcountry camping close to Spray Park, but you'll have to get a permit at the Carbon River ranger station during normal business hours.
Some photographers have said that they've gotten erroneous info regarding the wildflower bloom from the rangers and volunteers at Rainier visitor centers. That has not been my experience at all, and I encourage you to ask every time you go to a visitor center, meet a ranger or encountrer a backcountry patrol person - they've pinpointed good locations for me on several visits.
Have a great trip!
It looks like the last week in July and the fist in August might be nice. I wish I could go.
One thing for certain ...it was beautiful ...sunny, pleasant, w/a few mosquitos...bring the bug-juice and sun screen. One brown bear near the trail.. a few elk and deer on the Mowich road in the early morning drive.