Monday, November 23, 2015

Eagle Peak Trail with Blowdowns, Snowfields, and Avalanche Chutes

We had done this hike years ago and decided this would be a good day to do it again.

The view of Mt. Rainier from the trailhead

We started out by walking across this suspension bridge over the Nisqually River at Longmire


A view of the river from the bridge

Mt. Rainier from the bridge

It didn't take long to encounter snow on the trail


Then blowdowns

And more blowdowns


More snow as we got higher

And still more blowdowns

Finally, the trail emerged from the forest

We followed the tracks straight ahead



We kept crossing the slope, following the tracks

Moving toward the peaks ahead


Finally, we realized the slope was too steep and we had to turn around



Retracing our steps



Finding a spot for lunch

Looking up from our lunch spot and realizing this was the actual trail, not our previous traipse across the snowfield




Back on the trail going up after lunch

Deeper snow, steeper slope



Finally, we got to another avalanche chute, just below the saddle



By now, we had been on the trail for four hours, thanks to our accidental detour and all the blowdowns


Looking up at the saddle, we decided it was time to turn around

Pretty good views of the foothills before starting our return


 Stats:
Elevation gain=2900'
Round trip=8 miles
Blowdowns=15-20
Date hiked=November 23, 2015
More text at this link:
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2015-11-23.2479107104

No comments: