Palisades, Little Ranger Peak via Ranger Creek & Snoquera Falls Loop — Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

Mt Rainier Area-Highway-410 Hustle. Loop from Camp Sheppard-Trails were White River>Ranger Creek>Palisades>Snoqera Falls. Total Miles=16.5mi/Elevgain=3600’. 28Nov25.
The night prior I did considerable "mission planning..." Trail and Weather Apps (GAIA GPS, alltrails, NationalWeatherService) all showed significant snow accumulation beyond 4500' elevation. So my plan was to go up Ranger Creek until I encountered significant snow - and then turn around and NOT push into deeper snow. I've made bad choices in this area during previous "runs" of these snow covered trails. But Ranger Creek Trail was in great shape, snow-free and the damp forest fog was dissipating to reveal a beautful sunny blue sky.
My first significant snow was encountered at 4600' elevation. Then the snow got deeper...As I continued to climb I came into fresh snow several inches deep (from overnight?). By 4800-feet, coming into Ranger Creek/Palisades intersection, the snow was 6" deep. So much for being told-"It's just a dusting of snow up at 5000-feet elevation, you'll be fine..." The trail was completely covered but I've traversed this trail route enough times that I knew where to go. Just in case, I had navigation Apps and - fresh animal tracks to follow. I'm pretty sure the tracks were from Elk. I was confidant they weren't mountain lion, bear or Bigfoot tracks...