Three Hiking Sisters: Glacier Vista Snowshoe

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Glacier Vista Snowshoe

The Longmire Entrance to Mt Rainier National Park open yesterday after being closed for almost 2 weeks due to the road being washed out by a mud slide. So today, I drove up to Paradise to snowshoe up to Glacier Vista, 2.6 miles round trip with 1,010' gain.

View of Mt Rainier from Kautz Creek viewpoint near the park entrance

View of Mt Rainier from the Longmire Inn porch while waiting for the gate to open to the road to Paradise

The parking lot at Paradise was almost empty when I arrived

Surreal to be the first one up on the snowfield at Paradise since the road closed two weeks ago.

Mine where the only tracks heading up, looking back at the parking area and the Tatoosh Range.

I broke trail the entire way up to Glacier Vista.

To the west: Iron, Copper and Pyramid Peaks on the side of Mt Rainier

Looking back to the Tatoosh Range, with Mt Adams and Mt St Helens to the distant south.

I see my trail is not straight, but meandering as I enjoy the solitude of this landscape toady.

Was interesting to watch the clouds gather around Mt Rainier as I continued up to Glacier Vista.

Another view to the south, I could now see the Goat Rocks and Mt Hood far to the south

So quiet, I could hear some rockfall coming off the mountain.

View of Mt Rainier from Glacier Vista, lots of clouds and lots of new snow covering the glacier.

With an avalanche risk of considerable above tree line, and having seen lots of rollerballs come down as I was driving up to Paradise, I opted not to go up to Panorama Point (which is an avalanche slope). Heading back towards Paradise, looked back to see my sole steps in the snow. I would not see anyone else on the snow until I was almost back to the parking lot.

I love this short hike, the view up is of Rainier and this glorious view is in front of me as I return back down!!!