Hiking the Wonderland Trail: The Complete Guide to Mount Rainier's Premier Trail

by Tami Asars

Overview

"There's no other trip, trail or peak that any backpacker should rank higher on his life list than the Wonderland Trail." - Backpacker magazine

* Comprehensive and affectionate guide to one of the nation’s iconic wilderness trails
* Everything you need to help plan this 93-mile trek, whether done in one trip or several
* Lavish, full-color design, yet informative and practical, with 125 photographs and 18 maps
* Find even more details, updates and added trip extensions at hikingthewonderlandtrail.com

Washington State's famed Wonderland Trail is a spectacular 93-mile route that circumnavigates Mount Rainier, challenging hikers with its strenuous 22,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain and loss. Hiking the Wonderland Trail: The Complete Guide to Mount Rainier's Premier Trail is an authoritative guidebook penned by Washington native Tami Asars, a professional instructor on hiking the trail, a third-generation hiker of the Cascade mountains, and seven-time hiker of the entire Wonderland Trail. In this guide Asars draws on her experience, covering these essentials:

* How to work with the Wonderland Trail permit reservation system, and when to apply
* Recommended gear—with a checklist—and ways to reduce pack weight, prevent blisters, and stay warm and dry
* How to pack the perfect backpack
* Food and fuel caching on the Wonderland, tips and instruction
* Detailed camp-to-camp route descriptions and suggested itineraries
* How to extend your adventures with the Northern Loop Trail and the Eastside Trail

Over the years, Asars has taken extensive notes that she shares at workshops and in the field. Hiking the Wonderland Trail distills her boot-tested knowledge so that everyone can enjoy the magic of Mount Rainier's premier trail.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594856549
Publisher:	Mountaineers Books, The
Publication date:	07/24/2012
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	617,798
Product dimensions:	5.32(w) x 8.66(h) x 0.77(d)

About the Author

TAMI ASARS is a three generation Washingtonian who calls the North Cascades home. Tami is an avid hiker and backpacker and has hiked the Wonderland Trail in section, part, and complete more than nine times. Tami taught professional classes on outdoor persuits at REI for 9 years, and was a guide on the Northern Loop Trail in Mt. Rainier National Park. Tami works currently as a freelance writer, autor and photographer and her work can be viewed at tamiasars.com.

Be sure to connect with Tami on her Facebook page, subscribe to her backpacking blog, or for everything Wonderland Trail be sure to check out hikingthewonderlandtrail.com

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 7

Map Legend, Trail Elevation Profile, and Trail Overview Map 8

Introduction: Mount Rainier, Nature's Masterpiece

History 12

Storms and Volcanoes: A Destructive Power 13

How to Use This Book 17

Chapter 1 The Wonderland's Moody and Sunny Sides

Weather and Trail Conditions 20

Lions and Mice and Bears, Oh My! 31

Chapter 2 Preparing for Your Adventure

Getting Your Permit 47

Getting to the Mountain 53

Lodging at the Mountain 54

Food Caching 58

Fuel Caching 62

Gear 65

First Aid and Safety 68

The Necessities and Challenges of Water 72

Hygiene: Giving Primitiveness a High Five 75

Training for the Wonderland Trail 78

Trail Etiquette and Leave No Trace 81

Chapter 3 Backpacking the Wonderland Trail

Where Should I Start? 85

Which Direction Should I Go? 96

Distance, Maps, and the Spray Park Alternate 98

Chapter 4 The West Side: Longmire to Mowich Lake

Longmire to Devils Dream 104

Devils Dream to Klapatche Park 110

Klapatche Park to Golden Lakes 125

Golden Lakes to Mowich Lake 130

Chapter 5 The North Side: Mowich Lake to Sunrise Camp

Mowich Lake to Dick Creek via Ipsut Pass 138

Spray Park Trail: The Alternate Route 145

Dick Creek to Mystic Camp? 150

Mystic Camp to Sunrise Camp 156

Chapter 6 The East Side: Sunrise Camp to Nickel Creek

Sunrise Camp to Summerland 168

Summerland to Indian Bar 174

Indian Bar to Nickel Creek 183

Chapter 7 The South Side: Nickel Creek to Longmire

Nickel Creek to Paradise River 188

Paradise River to Longmire 195

Chapter 8 Sampling the Wonderland Trail

Section Hiking the Wonderland 198

The Northern Loop 199

The Eastside Loop 210

Appendixes

A Clockwise Itineraries 227

B Counterclockwise Itineraries 236

C Camp-to-Camp Elevation Gain and Loss 246

D Camps 247

E Resources 248

Index 250