Mt. Rainier National Park

Last Updated 5/7/2008

The beauty of Mt. Rainier National Park will leave you speechless. Whether it's the alpine lakes, temperate rainforest, charismatic megafauna, redolent lupines and other wildflowers, active glaciers, or the massive monolithic mountain itself, Mt. Rainier is awe-inspiring.

Mt. Rainier National Park awards only 5 commercial backpacking permits every year. Fitpacking has been awarded one of them, so this is one of your few chances to participate in a guided backpacking trip to this famed destination.

We will be hiking the less visited Northern Loop Trail as well as small sections of the famed Wonderland Trail on our 6-day hike, where we may encounter elk, deer, eagles, pikas, black bear, and marmots. Experience the timeless wonder of Mt. Rainier with us during the short, relatively dry and temperate season.

 

Mt. Rainier

Menus

We don't believe in austere eating regimens. Backpacking is a rigorous, rewarding activity. You must feed your body in order for it perform. Your body will dictate that you eat often. It's important to have fuel to feed it.

Note that this is not necessarily a comprehensive list. If you want to bring a big old chocolate cake, go for it. After carrying it 50 miles through the mountains, your body will most likely not desire the empty calories.

 

Itinerary

The Mt. Rainier National Park Fitpacking Trip will be from SEP 5-9 2009. Here is the proposed itinerary below

Equipment List

 EMail us for the list of equipment we suggest you bring

Trip Leaders

Steve Silberberg, who lives in Hull, MA has many years of backpacking experience over a variety of terrains and guides most Fitpacking trips. He is a SOLO certified Wilderness First Responder.

2nd guide TBD

 

Cost

TBD per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share hotel rooms with another trip participant. You may also want to share a tent with someone else. This part isn't a requirement, but it vastly will cut down on weight carried (and privacy) but allow you to enjoy hiking with a lighter load.

You will also be responsible for getting to and from Seattle as well as any restaurant meals during off days.

Covered expenses include 2 nights in a hotel, all trail food (3 meals per day), ground transportation, permits, satellite phone service, and two amazing guides.

 

Fitpacking Itinerary Saturday, September 5, 2009 - Saturday, September 12, 2009 Last Updated 5/7/2008

Saturday, September 5, 2009 Fly into Seattle (SEA) We will pick you up at the airport and head to a local hotel TBD Equipment shakedown Go to REI to pick up any equipment participants forgot Trail mix distribution "Before" measurements taken Go out for dinner

Sunday, September 6, 2009   Second set of "before" measurements taken All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage. You'll also have the opportunity to take one last shower as this is your last stop in civilization for a week, although swimming opportunities may be available on the trail. Go out for breakfast Shuttle to Mt. Rainier National Park, White River Campground Begin Hiking on the Inter Fork Trail, elevation 4300' Mt. Rainier Hike 3.0 long, uphill miles to Glacier Basin Campground, elevation 6000' Camp at Glacier Basin Miles today: 3.0. Total miles: 3.0 Possible bailout: White River

Monday, September 7, 2009 Hike 0.6 miles to the Burroughs Mountain Trail. Hike 3.1 miles to the Wonderland Trail, peaking out at 7000' Hike 0.7 miles to the Northern Loop Trail Hike 1.2 miles to Berkeley Park Camp Camp at Berkeley Park Camp, elevation 6000'. Miles today: 5.6. Total miles: 8.6 Possible bailout: Sunrise Ranger Station.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009 Hike 2.8 miles to the Lake Eleanor Trail. Hike 3.3 miles to Lake Eleanor Camp Camp at Lake Eleanor Camp, elevation 4986' Miles today: 6.1. Total miles: 14.7 Possible bailout: Sunrise Ranger Station.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009 Hike 3.3 miles to Northern Loop Trail, elevation 5696' Hike 6.0 long, grueling miles to Redstone Peak, going down to elevation 3200', and climbing to 4800' Miles today: 9.3. Total miles: 24.0 Possible bailout: Sunrise Ranger Station.

Thursday, September 10, 2009 Hike 2.4 miles to Yellowstone Cliffs, elevation 6000' Hike 3.6 miles to Carbon Glacier, elevation 2800' Carbon Glacier Hike 1.6 miles to Cataract Valley, elevation 5215' Camp at Cataract Valley Camp Miles today: 7.6. Total miles: 31.6 Possible bailout: Ipsut Creek (if re-built by then) Otherwise, Mowich.

Friday, September 11, 2009 Hike 6.5 miles to Mowich Lake. Mowich Lake Miles today: 6.5. Total miles: 38.1 Possible bailout: Mowich. Shuttle from Mowich back to hotel TBD "After" measurements taken Dinner and awards Ceremony

Saturday, September 12, 2009 "After" measurements taken Leave Hotel Parting Breakfast Airport Drop

Route

Our journey will begin at White River Campground on the East side of Mt. Rainier. We’ll quickly climb up to Glacier Meadows and head towards the North Loop Trail. We'll stay at Lake Eleanor and go by Redstone Peak before we drop down to the Carbon Glacier. Eventually we'll climb up through beautiful alpine Spray Park before ending our trek at Mowich Lake.

Please note that this is one of our most difficult and advanced trips.