Wonderland Trail..Info

[IAMHYDROGEN]

Have the general scoop on the trail. Time of year, yada yada..Just wondering if anyone has done it and has any tips. What time they did it, and tricks I should know about. I am thinking June. Mid to late. I am planning on 10 days. Please give me the inside scoop. Thanks.:biggrin: :biggrin:

[cj001f]

Go to the Olympics instead.

[Greydon Clark]

In June, I think you could encounter snow. Also, the Olympics are rad and might work better with you're timeline (but don't write-off the wonderland trail).

[IAMHYDROGEN]

July? Early? Mid?

[Greydon Clark]

I’m new to the PNW, but this summer the snow stuck around for a long time. I’m not sure of the elevation of the wonderland trail, but mid-July would probably work. Or, if you want to avoid crowds, bugs, and have good weather, I’d go in early September post-Labor Day.

[AKPogue]

I did the trail 6 years ago(time goes fast:( ). It is an amazing trail and would definitely pick it over the Olympics. Have done some backpacking in both and the Trail is amazing. I did it in late August and there was still a little snow in places but nothing to worry about. June anywhere in the PNW will probably still get you snow in any of the passes. Much better to wait til at least July. Make sure you plan ahead and I think you can reserve spots which you should do. You can leave stuff if you want to travel a little lighter at either paradise or sunrise depending on where you start. I found that the weather in the PNW was better in Aug usually than at any other time.

[cj001f]

It is an amazing trail and would definitely pick it over the Olympics. Have done some backpacking in both and the Trail is amazing.

I agree with you that August/September weather is the choice weather for the PNW. Days are still long, skys are mostly clear, weathers warm. Snow will almost definitely be gone by then; depending on the winter & spring it could be gone by July as well.

I disagree on Rainier vs. Olympics. The upper ends of the Olympic valleys are some of the most remote wilderness in the lower 48. If you've minimal glacier skills, heading back into the peaks of the Olympics is perhaps unmatched in the lower 48 - there are some glaciated peaks that get a couple ascents a year.
http://cj001f.smugmug.com/photos/7440512-M.jpg
the Blue Glacier - Mt Olympus is far right.

[IAMHYDROGEN]

I agree with you that August/September weather is the choice weather for the PNW. Days are still long, skys are mostly clear, weathers warm. Snow will almost definitely be gone by then; depending on the winter & spring it could be gone by July as well.

I disagree on Rainier vs. Olympics. The upper ends of the Olympic valleys are some of the most remote wilderness in the lower 48. If you've minimal glacier skills, heading back into the peaks of the Olympics is perhaps unmatched in the lower 48 - there are some glaciated peaks that get a couple ascents a year.
http://cj001f.smugmug.com/photos/7440512-M.jpg
the Blue Glacier - Mt Olympus is far right.

I agree that the olympics are amazing. I have done some hiking there a while back. But I am set on the Wonderland...I have been dreaming of this trail for a while. I think the info has been very helpful..Thank you all. The Olympics can be another trip in the future. I am set with attempting the Wonderland. I think July, Aug. sounds like my best bet.

[Mike Adamson]

This was Ben's report. It makes a good read. Three years ago yesterday, Ben left us.

http://www.cascadeclassics.org/MountRainier/WonderlandTrail/WonderlandTrail,Summer01.htm

There may be a later trip report from a 24 hour attempt on http://cascadecrusades.org as well.

[Greydon Clark]

I heard on the news this morning that parts of the Wonderland Trail washed out with the recent floods. Obviously the park service won’t be able to initiate repairs until the spring, so who knows when the trail will be passable. The attempt to hike the trail in 3 days sounded brutal.

[cj001f]

According to their blog

As for the Wonderland and other park trails, here's a brief run down on the storm damage. Keep in mind, the full extent may not be known till next spring, as these assessments were made from the air. For now, backpackers should probably expect things (bridges) to open up later than normal next summer. There are at least 10 bridges out around the Wonderland Trail. New trail needs to constructed in four other places. That includes a half mile reroute between Lake James and Cataract Creek and another 750 foot section in Stevens Canyon. NPS Photos