Tumac Mountain Loop — Saturday, Sep. 23, 2023

I did this hike in 1985 in late September and remembered the glorious colors of the huckleberries. So I did it again. I stayed overnight at Cougar flats campground, which I highly recommend, to get an early start on the afternoon rain.  The dirt road is quite rough with one place just before the parking lot which was barely passible in a non-SUV.  No problem with parking.

Just like last time, the colors were amazing. The views from the top of Tumac were wide and excellent, White pass to the Snoqualmie Pass peaks. Rainer was hidden by trees that had grown up in the last 40 years.  The long hike from Tumac to the Crest trail and south to Twin Sisters lake was colorful and in excellent shape,  but without the previous expansive views of Rainier along the trail due to, again, tree growth.  The rain started as soon as I reached the car.

12.8 mi, 7 hours including stops and 2400 feet gain. Well worth it. 

So next year, last two weeks of September, think about doing this hike.