Spray Park Loop — Tuesday, Jul. 26, 2016

Mount Rainier Area > NW - Carbon River/Mowich

I began counterclockwise loop at 8:30 a.m. Lovely flowers, a cool breeze and no bugs! Probably 8 hours hiking, 1 hr of breaks and an hour of picture-taking and admiring. It seems preferable to do this counterclockwise when you can come up Ipsut pass in the shade. It would be a long, hot climb from Carbon River to Seattle Park the other way. Note that you have to go right and cross the Carbon river on the suspension bridge, then left a couple miles until you take the lower crossing back over the Carbon River to walk to the Ipsut Pass trail. I wish I had counted the lovely creeks crossing and logs arranged for me - there were MANY! Also, a shout out for the recently brushed trail up Ipsut Pass! Folks, the road isn't that bad. Really just 30 min of dirt and you don't have to come to a stop to negotiate a dip. Pretend you are in a Star Trek movie and you'll be fine.