Take heart, there is some great snow-free hiking at Mount Rainier to be had in the Mowich access area. The Paul Peak trail is virtually completely free of blow-downs, those still around are easily gotten over. Trail work has been happening here in the past 1-2 weeks with great results to fixed tread and drainage. No snow at all at the Paul Peak trailhead nor along the trail, with trillium, palmate coltsfoot, calypso orchids, yellow violets, all dotting the forest floor. It sure is wonderful of the massive blow-down hillside event of 1-2 years back that created such a stunning open view from the Paul Peak trail as it decends to meet the Wonderland Trail--best views looking up the South Mowich River drainage in the park!
Wonderland trail down then to the meeting of the North and South Mowich River crossings was through lush moss. The Wonderland trail disappears into the North Mowich River at the most amazing pile of fresh trees from the floods I've seen--the river undercut both shores and the trees just fell inward over the river channel, resulting in literally hundreds of possible trees to be chosen as the blessed sacred replacement for a footlog bridge for the park service to choose from (see photo). Rather than risk falling into the swift waters alone on this solo hike I roamed about the river channels of the North and South Mowich for the next 90 minutes. Found the previous footlog bridge about 200' downstream piled under a few trees, lots of fresh elk scat, and many peaceful photo opportunities. Then for the unusual treat of an uphill hike back to the trailhead. This is a very quiet hike to an area of the Wonderland that I'd guess is not used much by day hikers--and it is an area around the rivers that is very worth visiting after a terrific forest hike.
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