Went from the Jackson Visitor center (NOT Glacier Vista) up to the Point. This is a tough one, but worth it!! Of course substantial crowds on a summer Friday morning, but honestly not too much to handle on the trail. The first half-mile or so starts off STEEP on a paved trail, which then transitions to a slightly rocky path. There are still several snow crossings, where it can be easy to lose the trail. We used poles with no spikes, but I would recommend the latter if you have them. Take your time and be careful with the slushy terrain when you return down some steep slopes! The view is INCREDIBLE. Worth the calf-burning to see Adams, St. Helen's, and many other peaks with of course Her Majesty in the background! ;) Total time was about 3-3.5 hours for us to do the 3.8 total from the center to the Point. Decent (but pricey) food at the Inn for lunch afterwards and plenty more short trails to continue the adventure, if you're not too hot from the midway sun! Sunglasses and sunscreen are a must.

Don't forget that you need to book a reservation to enter the Paradise area online!

The weather forecast looked to be quite favorable for the 13th, a reservation to go to Mt Rainier was obtained a few days ahead,(super easy to do) and off we went!  Arrived at the park just before 9 am (permit 7 am to 9 am) and on arrival to the parking lot--it was already quite full but ample spots remained.  (we didn't feel the need to be there at the crack of dawn).   Sunshine, climbers eager to get up the mountain, little wind and The Mountain is out--what's not to like?  

The trail is 99% snow covered; Rangers were putting out tall orange poles to mark the 'summer trail' which is still under quite a bit of snow.  The trail is boot packed for the most part, but the snow is slushy as well--expected for that time of day.  We had trekking poles (super handy) and put on microspikes below Panorama Face (very handy at that point).  Climbers and folks were going up the Face, we elected to go the usual route (to the left of the face, up and over) of which there were a few sections of melted out trail that one must be cautious as you could easily slip down the side of the hill with the mushy dirt (essentially, stay high on the trail).  

Lunch at Panorama Point, the clouds were starting to float overhead, and the wind started to pick up a bit.  However, conditions were still quite nice.  We glissaded down the face (caution advised--one of the longer routes had a rock and stick becoming uncovered that was hard to see from above) and had a great time!  The snow is a bit abrasive though, as one finds out when there is red on the white snow.  oh well.  Bandages are present in the first aid kit.  :)  

On the way up and down, there were a fair number of tourists hiking up the snow fields in tennis shoes, no sunglasses, t-shirts/shorts, no water, no trekking poles with many of them attempting to get to Panorama Point or the skyline trail.  There will be some folks hurtin for certain in 24 hours.  I'm sure they had fun, but they will have paid a price!  

When we left, cars were parked on the side of road at the Paradise Parking lot; the lower lot had many spots open which were quite visible from the road.  Seems people didn't want to walk any further than they needed. 

Off to Base Camp Grill for a beer and cookies to top off our day. Always great to hike on Mt Rainier, especially on a sunny day!   

My plan was Comet Falls but the mountain was out, the road was clear, and there was no one at the Comet Falls trailhead. So I headed up to Paradise to a small handful of cars, probably most of them skiiers and snowboarders. There was no snow at the start and a few slick spots, but nothing nasty. I headed up Deadhorse Creek loving the quiet morning. Cool clouds, muted tones, and running water were the rock stars today. Once you clear the bulk of trees there was a dusting of snow and some thin ice over puddles. I continued onto Glacier Vista taking a picture every twenty feet. It's always a little different on the mountain, but I had never experienced so many soft colors and textures. If there isn't much snow, this is a great trail. I saw a lot of street clothes on the trail today with flat-soled tennies. That won't cut it pretty soon; layers, poles, spikes, gloves and hat, water and snacks, a map, and research into trail conditions...will allow you the most fun and safety on the mountain.

I took a personal day for a chance at the late fall season we're having on the mountain. You can still get the colors, especially on the drive. Note: the road that takes you to Reflection Lake is closed. The carpets of red are mostly done. Now you get more of the tufts of yellow with a tiny bit of red and orange here and there. The trail up to Panorama Point is in perfect condition. Near the Pebble Creek trail sign you'll find puddles of water. I heard beyond Panorama Point, there was ice and snow. I decided not to do the high skyline loop and instead hit Glacier Vista and then Alta Vista on my way back. I had never done the viewpoint on the Alta Vista trail. Coming down Skyline and then up to the viewpoint is a bit of a climb, but it was the perfect place for a snack and drawing. I headed down to Nisqually Vista to finish my hike. I've done this one in the winter so many times. The path is paved the whole way, but you get a deep woods feel, so you still feel like you're on a hike. Happy autumn hiking people!

With clouds bringing the summit views in and out, and with a few thousand of my closest friends, I hiked from the Jackson Visitor's Center at Paradise up the Waterfall Trail west to beautiful Deadhorse Creek Trail to Glacier Vista. From Glacier Vista, joined the much more crowded west Skyline trail to Panorama Point. Thank you social media for the crowd-sourcing. (The day before, I hiked Eagle Peak trail and saw no other hikers.) Then upper Skyline to Golden Gate trail, and down Golden Gate to Myrtle Falls and back along to Paradise east Skyline. Cold and windy at Panorama Point and glad to have a puffy jacket and parka. Warm and balmy back down at Paradise. A young black bear was browsing near Waterfall trail, and three deer were doing the same west of Deadhorse Trail. A lone mountain goat was wandering on slopes below Pan Point. Lots of marmots and chipmunks. Someone described seeing a fisher! Wildflowers are mostly going to seed, with some still in bloom, especially right at Paradise along the road. Skyline is getting loved to death,with lots of off-trail tromping killing vegetation and creating scars. Good to see the newly defined semi-circle lunch spots with big rock "benches".