There's No Place Like Grand Park

Grand Park 10/16/11

 If I had to pick one hike as a favorite out of the several we've done this past year, and even in years past, it would be Grand Park. Bar none.  We have done a few less than picturesque hikes last month (hence no photo or blog entries covering them) and they both left me consoling myself saying, "Well they can't all be Grand Park."  This hike is just spectacular.  We were last here in late July and I must say that I was worried that since we were just here, some of the thrill might have wore off because it wasn't new to us anymore, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

 The first mile of the trail that was previously dry but full of tree explosions that caused us to have to 4x4 over them and go well off the main trail in the process was now wetter but clear of trees and full of mushrooms.

I love the orange ones!

There was a very crisp fall air blowing through the forested areas that refreshed us as we climbed up and up.  Elevation gain on this trail is 1200 feet.

The first open meadow (the teaser with Mt. Rainier peeking just behind Mark) was much dryer and more yellow than on our last jaunt.   It looked and felt completely different.

 This is from July.  See what I mean?

 

This part was under a few feet of snow in July.  There is just a hint of snow left just behind Mark.  Again, it looks completely different and beautiful.

See-

I like the snow look too!

 The biggest surprise was entering Grand park.  The surprise was realizing that when we went in July, due to the snow covering the trail, we entered the park well off the main trail and ended up much more southwest than we should have been.

 

We could tell because Little Tahoma was visible in this picture.  It is the spikey peak to the left of Rainier in this picture.

 

A better view of Little Tahoma.

 In this picture from July, it's mostly hidden from view.  The funny part is that we just followed someone else's tracks through the snow to get here and we weren't the only ones.  Everyone who came up behind us did so as well.  On our latest trip, we could not figure out precisely where we deviated from the original trail meaning we probably couldn't do it again if we tried. 

 As it happens, the trail treks a mile through the park before dropping down into the valley again and heading ever so much closer to Rainier.  We walked a good bit of that mile scoping out a place where trees would not obstruct our view while we ate lunch.

Looking back on where we had just been.

 It definitely seemed much harder to find the perfect lunch spot in this part of the park.  There were a lot more trees to try to move past.

 Rainer looked to me like a powder keg on this trip.  The snow was so fresh and new.  Photos just don't do it's beauty justice.  You can see the trail heading off toward the valley in this one.

Here's a better view of the trail heading down toward Sunrise.

Looking toward home.  When we left, it was cloudy but as we got closer to the trailhead, the clouds cleared. 

The lunch spot.

 We ate mixed nuts, beef stroganaff, drank fruit tea and for desert, dark chocolate. 

Yum!  Does it get any better than this?

But all too soon it's time to head back.  This trek one way was 3.5 miles.  In July, it took us three hours to get to wherever we ended up in the Park.  On this trip, it was 1.5 hours up.  We made great time less the snow and the tree explosions.  On the way back both trips, it was about 2 hours. 

Note to "Mom."  Notice, I am wearing the hat you made for Daniel and I love it.  I think it's really mine!  It is just long enough that it kept the sun out of my eyes without hindering my peripheral vision.  Just perfect.

  And speaking of love, I love this field.  All my favorite colors!  Looks like heaven to me.

 Back at Lake Eleanor.  This is one mile from the trailhead and has a few campsites.  Really secluded and quiet.

And my favorite part of Lake Eleanor is the open air toilet with no roof or door.  Samuel would get a big kick out of this.

It's a ten mile drive to the trailhead from the main hiway on a gravel logging road that pretty much goes straight up.

But you cannot beat the views.

I never noticed these trees on the last trip because they were green.   Now that they are orange and yellow, you bet I notice them.

Love it!

The rain has come to Washington well before I wished it.  Who am I kidding, I don't wish for rain to fall except at night when I sleep unless there is thunder and lightning involved. Then I want to see and hear it.  And if rain falls as snow, then let it snow!  But my point is that rain is a deterrent to hiking.  We headed up to Mowich a month ago gambling on the weather holding as it was at home, but instead of brightening up, it poured instead.  Mark had his rain gear and I wore a poncho and we logged a few miles anyway and it was fun.  It felt like we were being naughty little children tromping through puddles and mud and I enjoyed that.   But it was short lived and not nearly as fulfilling as this hike was.

We've certainly done longer hikes than Grand Park.  We logged 8.5 miles in three hours on a flatter more boring trail but it left me feeling like it was another "been there done that, no need to return trail."  I like a little (or a lot of) challenge and a nice view.  That is Grand Park.  The trek up is tedious, especially that last mile.  But once you get there, the "wow" factor is off the charts.  

We would like to get in a few more fall hikes before the 6 month rainy season begins.  Maybe a snowshoe or two if we can make time work in our favor.   Here's hoping.  If this is the last one for awhile, it was certainly a good one.  There's no place like Grand Park.