Day 3 - Friday 7/27/2018 - Hike Glacier Basin in the Sunrise Area
Today we were all awake by 6 AM. We again got breakfast downstairs, loaded up the car and were on the road by 7:45 AM. We wanted to get to the Reflection Lakes fairly early. They were just past Paradise and they were perfectly still that early in the morning with great views of Rainier in them.
We continued on and arrived at Glacier Basin camp group and were on the trail by 9:45. The trail was almost consistent incline, but that means it wasn’t overly steep. It was also in the shade a lot of the time which helped, but the bugs were bad at times. There were great views of Rainier along the way, but not much of a view from the actual end of the trail. We kind of wished we did Emmons Moraine Split off but overall it was a great day! Nice hike for sure, just not spectacular as others. We got back from the hike about 2:00 PM and then decided to drive up to the Sunrise Visitor Center which was at 6400 FT elevation.
The views were great up there, but it was also smoky/ hazy. Our hiking for the next day was starting from Sunrise Visitor Center so we left with hope that tomorrow would provide clearer views. We arrived at the Crystal Chalets in Crystal Mountain at about 4:30 PM and lugged our all the way up our condo. Pretty spacious and nice though no AC. The place had a few other resorts around it and three restaurants / bars. We grabbed a beer at Snorting Elk and chatted being American with Glyn a Brit that moved to New Zeland when we was 15. He married a kiwi and had three kids. One of which now works in Seattle. He and his wife rented motorcycles (I think) and drive Seattle to Chicago and then did Route 66 and then up California to Washington. His son was running a 50 mike ultra marathon the next day out of Crystal Mountain resort through the mountains. Sounded crazy to me. We went to eat at Alpine Inn restaurant upstairs, excellent German food btw! We then headed back and called it a night.
Glacier Basin Hike - 6.5 Miles Round Trip; 1600 ft elevation gain
Safe Travels,
B&E
Glacier Basin Hike - 6.5 Miles Round Trip; 1600 ft elevation gain
Safe Travels,
B&E