Skyscraper Mountain

We drove up to Sunrise at Mt Rainier National Park to hike to Skyscraper Mountain and back, 8 miles round trip with 1,500 ft of overall gain. It was cloudy this morning, but we did get some views of the mountain. Mt Rainier as seen from the trail that connects the parking lot at Sunrise with the Sourdough Ridge Trail.

Lots of clouds to the north as we looked out at one of the openings along the Sourdough Ridge Trail.

Nice view of Little Tahoma and most of Mt Rainier from further along the Sourdough Ridge Trail.

Another view to the north from one of the  openings along the Sourdough Ridge Trail. 

Frozen Lake

After Frozen Lake, we took the Wonderland Trail over to Skyscraper Mountain seen in the distance.

View along a creek looking towards Mount Fremont

View of Mt Rainier from Skyscraper Pass

View of Skyscraper Mountain from Skyscraper Pass

It is a steep boot track up to the top of Skyscraper Mountain

Views from the top of Skyscraper Mountain today: Mt Rainier to the south

other peaks to the west

Grand Park to the north and the West Fork of the White River far below

Mount Fremont to the east

By the time we finished our break and returned down to Skyscraper Pass, Mt Rainier was mostly covered in clouds.

zoom of a marmot seen along the trail

First Burroughs and a cloud covered Mt Rainier as we returned along Sourdough Ridge.

some fall color along the trail

Views to the north were a little clearer as we returned along Sourdough Ridge.

When we were driving down from Sunrise near the Frying Pan Creek Trailhead, two bear cubs ran across the road in front of us. Remember not to speed through the park.

We saw a few wildflowers along the trail today: