Hi! My name is Karen, and I'm a Western Washington native (who's highly addicted to coffee). I love the outdoors, and the Pacific Northwest has some of the most stunning wilderness habitats to explore in the world! Of course, I might be a little biased. So, come along with me as I hike, backpack, and camp in all the beautiful mountains and woods this side of the Cascades. And remember...just GET OUT THERE!
Tolmie Peak was -- by far -- one of the coolest hikes of this summer. I'd have to say it's one of my favorites. Ginger and I went on a Saturday, and left fairly early in the morning so we could get up to the north western side of mountain in time. Wanting to get away from the jam-packed areas of Longmire and Paradise, we decided to head up to Mowich Lake and "get out of town" so-to-speak. Even though Tolmie Peak is a fairly popular hike, I was surprised at how little traffic there was on the trail. We came across several people, but not nearly as much as we had expected on a Saturday.
The cool, clear, azure waters of Mowich Lake looked very inviting as we started our ascent, and the day was already warming up nicely. Hiking through lush, alpine forests, we were lucky enough to spend most of our trek in the shade. The hot summer sun streamed in through the trees and heated the forest floor, producing intoxicating scents of berries, pine needles, tree sap, and wild flowers. It sure was buggy though! Despite the fact that we sprayed ourselves several times with bug spray, they just kept on bitin'.
The jaunt up to Lake Eunice was fairly easy going, with a few ups and downs, and little switchbacks here and there. Eunice was gorgeous, and our destination was in sight -- the Fire Lookout of Tolmie Peak. So we took off for the steep switch backs up the ridge and across the scree. Once we had reached the top, we bounded eagerly over to a viewpoint at the edge of the cliff. We couldn't believe our eyes! Not a cloud in sight -- we could see all the way to Puget Sound across the valley, Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Baker, and the Olympics all from the top of a 5,939 foot peak! I felt on top of the world in that wide, open, fresh air with the mountain so close I could practically reach out and touch it.
After relishing in our epic journey to the top of the peak, we made our way to the fire lookout and had lunch with a nice chipmonk who sat in our laps. It was very hot on top of the peak, and being all sweaty from our hike, we quickly came to the conclusion that a swim in Mowich Lake was a MUST DO before we set off for home. We made our descent quickly so we could jump in the lake, and boy...was it ever c-c-cold!!! It felt so good though after a long, hot hike. One quick dunk was pretty much all we needed in the snow melt lake, so we dried off, took in the scenery one last time, and headed back home. Couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. :) Thanks for going with me Ging! I'll remember this day for the rest of my life!
Check out the video below for the full account of Ginger's and my adventure! :)
I was anxious to set foot on this trail again. Having done the trek up to Carter Falls and then Madcap Falls as a child, I was practically jumping out of my hiking boots at the chance to see how this trail had changed over the years. And boy, had it ever. When I was in the fifth grade, I remember hiking alongside giant pipes that ran the length of the trail which were the remnants of an old hyrdo-electric system. You can imagine my surprise when these same pipes loomed twenty feet above my head, due to the Paradise River washout.
This hike is completely uphill until you reach Narada Falls, where we then turned around and re-traced our steps. The hike back down is steep in some places, but overall realitively easy-going. The weather was great...the forecast had called for rain, but surprise, surprise! Mt. Rainier once again decided to make its own weather. Starting out near the Cougar Rock Campground, we crossed the Nisqually River right away and set out up the hill towards Carter Falls. With the Paradise River to our right, we had the soothing sound of running water to keep us company on this otherwise quiet hike. We heard little more than a few birds chirping, and the trees creaking in the wind.
You can't miss Carter Falls -- the roar of its falling waters alerts you to its location long before you ever reach sight of it. A sign notifies you that you have reached your first destination. Carter Falls is set far back, and can sometimes be hard to see with all the trees in the way. There are a few good viewing opportunities, but never a full, clear shot of the falls. Just a few short steps up the hill lies Madcap Falls, which is unmarked. It pales in comparison to Carter Falls, and practically looks like just another dip in the river compared to Narada. The only clue you have to communicate that you have reached the falls is a wooden guardrail, which allows you to get up close and personal to the rolling falls.
After Madcap, the trail offers little scenery (besides the Paradise River) to entertain you until you reach Narada Falls. However, that doesn't mean that the trail is boring. Quite the contrary! The forest is lush, the smell intoxicating, and lots of little wild flowers pop up here and there. Mule deer are often spotted along this trail, and Ginger and I had the privilege to see a doe and her two baby fawns. They were so adorable with their little white spots! We tried our best to be quiet and catch them on film, but momma wasn't having any of our business and quickly shooed her fawns down the hill and out of the area. Oh well, maybe next time. :)
We knew we had reached Narada Falls when we heard it about 0.2 mile away, and the fact that there seemed to be an increased number of people on the trail. Ginger and I had been alone practically the entire hike, but what did we expect going to a tourist heavy location? We stopped to take pictures of the falls and a few videos before heading up to the Narada Falls parking lot to have lunch. Please be careful during your ascent to the top of the falls. The mist constantly washes over the area, causing the rocks to be slippery, and the ground to remain fairly wet. Ging and I sat on the rock wall of the road bridge over the Paradise River, eating our sandwiches in silence. We couldn't believe the amount of people that flooded the parking lot and general area. I guess that's what you get when a stunning waterfall is easily accessible via the road up to Paradise. I watched in horror as several people went down to the banks of the river, filled up their water bottles, and just starting drinking the stream water without treating it! Ginger and I thought that was fairly common knowledge, that you should always treat your water, but I guess not to city folk. I shouted over the roar of the falls to one lady, "You know...you really should treat that water!" I don't think she quite understood what I meant, because she responded with, "Oh yeah! Isn't it such a treat?! It's so good for you!" I looked at Ginger and rolled my eyes, muttering that she was going to pay for it later when she was throwing up out the window on her way back down the mountain. Although the Native American word "Narada" translates into "Uncontaminated" you should still always treat your water. Better safe than sorry.
After being thoroughly annoyed by the tourists, we set off back the way we came. We were eager to get back on the quiet trail, and away from the hussle and bustle that we come up to the mountain to get away from. :P
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