Mystic Lake Mt Rainier NP

 I'm slowly doing different sections of the Wonderland Trail at Mt Rainier NP, and doing as many sections as day hikes that I feel I can do.
Today, we hiked out to Mystic Lake going west from Sunrise. This was an 18+ mile round trip hike with  4,100 ft of overall elevation gain.
As we had previously hiked the Wonderland section between Sunrise and Frozen Lake, we opted to start by heading up the Sourdough Ridge Trail (quickly gaining 400 ft). Love the morning sunlight hitting the top of Mt Rainier.




It seems most of the wildflowers are gone, but we did find some blossoms.
Along the Sourdough Rim Trail, Sunrise Camp is below. First Burroughs and Mt Rainier in the distance.

 This pika ran our on the trail right by my feet, I waited for him to scurry back into the rocks before continuing to hike.











The haze from the wildfires wasn't bad in the morning, we enjoyed our views.

 Shadow Lake is where the Wonderland Trail connects with the Sourdough Ridge Trail.

 From Frozen Lake to the saddle by Skyscraper Mtn is 2 miles, losing and gaining 300 ft.

 There were many marmots scampering around this morning.











I've hiked out to Skyscrapper Mtn before, from here to Mystic Lake is new trail for me! We will lose 2,100 ft in elevation over the next 3.8 miles to Winthrop Creek, then gain 1,100 ft over 2.4 miles to Mystic Lake (not seen in the photos) is located to the left of Old Desolate (seen above my shadow).

I was thankful that the majority of the next 6+ miles would be mostly in the shade of the forest on this very warm August day, especially on our return hike.

Granite Creek had some wildflowers in bloom along the creekside.

 Crossing Granite Creek, on of several log bridges along this section of the trail.

 The trail goes along the end of Winthrop Glacier, we saw several rock and boulder slides, they made quite a loud noise!











This picture shows part of Winthrop glacier exposed under the layer of rock and dirt.

 Several small streams along the trail with lovely moss and ferns.

 We were very happy to see the new bridge with handrail was in over Winthrop Creek, I don't think I would have been comfortable crossing the creek on the old partially submerged bridge that had no handrail.










Winthrop Creek was very fast with lots of water.
 Mt Rainier and Winthrop Glacier in the background. We had to walk up creek on the water's edge to rejoin the Wonderland Trail. There were several cairns marking the way.









A short raised section of the trail in the middle of the Winthrop Glacier drainage.
Old Desolate int he background.












 We had a nice view of Mt Rainier and the end of the Winthrop Glacier here.

There was a much smaller stream from the Winthrop Glacier coming down the west fork of the drainage. It always amazed me how the course of water can change course and cause so much erosion.

The trail up to Mystic Lake was mainly in the cool forest, and for a ways follows the creek draining off of Mystic lake. We found this a good place to refill our water bottles on the way out.

 There were ripe huckleberries along the trail.

 some asters and other wildflowers on the way up to Mystic Lake
















Mystic Lake with Mineral Mountain blocking Mt Rainier.

We took a nice long lunch break at Mystic Lake, took off our boots and waded in the water to cool off.
There were many dragonflies and tadpoles, along with small fish jumping.















View of Mystic Lake from wading along the lake's edge:

The haze was much thicker as we hiked back making it difficult to see Mt Rainier.
(zoom photo) Winthrop Glacier in the foreground, we heard and saw many more rock and boulder slides off the glacier as the day was heating up.

 To the left of the center tree, we could see Garda Falls. To the right is Winthrop Creek and Winthrop Glacier (Burroughs Mountain in the center background).

Winthrop Creek seemed higher and faster in the afternoon, my feet got splashed crossing the bridge on the way back.












So thankful most of the trail was in the forest shade on the hike back up towards Skyscrapper Mtn. We took a short break at Granite Creek refilling our water bottles and enjoying the wildflowers in bloom here.

 Cinquefoil in bloom along the trail as we near Skyscrapper Mtn

East side of the saddle by Skyscrapper Mtn, looking over our return route along the Wonderland Trail, First Burroughs in the background.

Sitka valerian in bloom along the trail, in the far distance we saw some mountain goats running across the meadow, too far away to get any photos.











Pretty little stream, Mount Fremont in the background.

 We did see some pasqueflower that had gone to seek along the way.

View to the north along the Sourdough Ridge Trail, very hazy. No views of the north Cascade Peaks that we can see on a clear day.

Some of the wildflowers we saw in bloom today: