Basses and Mountains: Mt Rainier: Hike to 2nd Burroughs

Yesterday Anna, Pierce, and I hiked the 2nd Burroughs trail in Mt Rainier National Park. We left our house at about 7:15 in the morning and were on the trail by around 9:30. It was a beautiful day, clear and warm at the Sunrise Visitor Center, with a temperature of 72 degrees (22 C). The hike is about 6 miles (9.7 km) with 1200 feet (366 meters) of elevation gain between the trailhead at Sunrise and 2nd Burroughs Mountain. The trail tops out at about 7600 feet (2316 meters) above sea level.

FYI, the metric conversions are for my European readership.

It was the perfect hike: warm but not too warm, great company, and absolutely unparalleled scenery.
We heard from some park rangers that three black bears (mama bear and two cubs) were seen crossing the trail a couple of times but we did not get to see them. Also, to Anna's dismay, we saw no mountain goats.

After the hike, a park ranger asked Pierce and I to fill out surveys about our park experience. She asked us "Are you two related?" - my reply: "Not Yet!"

Pleasantly fatigued, we jumped back into the Subaru and headed home. However, and I cannot overemphasize the importance of this, we refreshed ourselves with huckleberry milkshakes at Wapiti Woolies in the tiny town of Greenwater just outside the national park. As far as I am concerned, this stop is a requirement after any hike at or near Sunrise!

A few pictures follow:

The Mountain from a short distance up the hill from the Sunrise Visitor Center

Marmot!

Anna and Pierce with Rainier looming

Selfie in progress

The Mountain from 2nd Burroughs

Checkerspot Butterfly

How's this for purple mountain majesties? That's Glacier Peak, another Cascade volcano, on the horizon.

Berkeley Park

Coming down from 2nd Burroughs looking East. That's 1st Burroughs on the next rise. Frozen Lake is in the distance.

Indian Paintbrush and (I think) Lupins in a trailside alpine meadow.

We had to cross the righthand end of the little snowfield on the right to get to and from 2nd Burroughs. It's a good thing I practiced my ice axe arrest skills ahead of time!