Emmons Morraine

Drove to the White River Campground at Mt Rainier National Park to hike up the Emmons Morraine Trail (I continued beyond the end of the maintained trail) via the Glacier Basin Trail, after a short walk down to the White River on the Wonderland Trail and back. Overall, I hiked about 4 miles with 960 ft of gain.

view of Mt Rainier from the log bridge over the White River along the Wonderland Trail

The Glacier Basin Trail is reached after walking through the campground.There were several small streams cascading down along the side of the trail and a larger waterfall was seen from one of the switchbacks on the trail.

View of Goat Island Mountain above and Baker Point below as seen from the Glacier Basin Trail

View of the Inter Fork River with bridge crossing and the Emmons Glacier on the other side of the bridge. This view is shortly before the turnoff from the Glacier Basin Trial to the Emmons Morraine Trail above. Views along the Emmons Morraine Trail below

Above a glacier tarn, Goat Island Mountain and Baker Point, below a zoom of the tarn

Views continuing beyond the end of the maintained trail, I followed a well defined boot track.

above zoom of the foot of the Emmons Glacier, below zooms of Little Tahoma and Mt Rainier

After a lunch break enjoying these views, I headed back down the trail. Nearing the end of the Glacier Basin Trail, I saw 5 deer that alternatingly walked alongside, in front and behind me on the trail. zoom of two of these deer below.

some of the flowers seen along the trail today:

Glacier Basin

Drove up to the White River Campground to hike up to the Emmons Moraine Trail and up to Glacier Basin Camp, about 7.2 miles round trip from the parking area and about 1,750 ft of total elevation gain.
First, walked down the the White River to see this view of Mt Rainier upstream.







In the parking area where squirrels and

deer.

This trail is mainly in the forest, but there are some views, here a first look at Little Tahoma.















There are lots of full streams from snow melt.

View before the turn off to the Emmons Moraine Trail, about 1 mile up from the trailhead. Near the top of Inter Fork here is the log bridge over Inter Fork.

log bridge over Inter Fork on the Emmons Moraine Trail.

View of Emmons Glacier, with the White River emerging from under the glacier.

a green tarn in the basin

here is the end of the maintained trail

I went about 0.25 mile beyond the sign, and saw this view before returning to the main trail.

lots of water in the Inter Fork

a view of the top of Rainier from the trail a short ways after the trail junction.

Fabulous view of Mt Rainier along the trail, on the way up to Glacier Basin Camp.

basalt cliffs up on the north side of the basin

stream running over the trail with a glimpse of Little Tahoma

About 1-1/2 miles up from the trailhead the snow was over the trail in large patches.

last glimpse of Rainier as the trail goes into the forest until after Glacier Basin Camp

some old abandoned equipment along the trail.

The mountain climbers have left their  tracks in the snow.

snow is melting from underneath the top layer

sign pointing up to Glacier Basin Camp, continuing straight on the winter route to Rainier as the snow layer over the Inter Fork is very weak and treacherous.

View just beyond Glacier Basin Camp: Mt Ruth, tippy top of Rainier and St Elmo's Pass

view close to the edge of Inter Fork, I could hear the river roaring underneath the snow.

enjoying the views of Rainier as I return down the trail

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today: