This year I squeezed time to join the photography trip to Indian Hunting Ground for summer flowers. I took one more day to visit other places near the Paradise Visitor Center, Mt Rainier National Park.
I had two night camping reservation on Cougar Rock camping ground, which is just 2 miles inside the park east of Longmire visitor center/museum.
Mazama Ridge
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| Mazama Ridge Trail and little Tacoma, 07/29/2017 |
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| Mazama Ridge Trail and Tatoosh Range, 07/29/2017 |
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| Paintbrush on the Mazama Ridge Trail, 07/29/2017 |
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Flower on the Mazama Ridge Trail
07/29/2017 |
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Paintbrush on the Mazama Ridge Trail
07/29/2017 |
The Pinnacle Saddle
I arrived afternoon on July 29. After I setup my tent and had a moment rest, I drove to the Reflection Lake. Then I headed up to the trail of Pinnacle Saddle. It was just 1.3 miles from the trail head, but I measured it was over 2 miles. The hiking was just average, and felt little bit strenuous only in the last three switches after passed through about one (1) miles forest.
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| Trail head to Pinnacle Peak, 07/29/2017 |
The end of the trail is the boundary of the Mt Rainier NP. Here is a good place to have a break and enjoy the Mt Adam on the south, the Castle Rock on the east side.
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| Pinnacle Peak Saddle Trail, Mt Rainier NP, 07/30/2017 |
From the end of the trail, I took the trail along the ridge on the right, walked about 10 minutes, and arrive the destination - a small pond with the beautiful view of the Mt Rainier on the north.
Here is the good place to shoot the Sunset and Sunrise. The last 15 minutes before the Sunset, 30 minutes before the Sunrise. Because of heavy snow last year, and high temperature recent few weeks, the snow hasn't melted, and pond has just little water.
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Mt Rainier viewed near Pinnacle Saddle, 07/30/2017
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In order to take another Sunset photos in the Saddle, I had to left 15 minutes before the Sunset got back in 10 minutes to have a beautiful picture of Mt Rainier with Pinnacle Peak wall on the right.
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| Viewed Mt Rainier from Pinnacle Saddle, 07/30/2017 |
The Reflection Lakes
Reflection Lakes are one of the most photographed view of the Mt Rainier. I includes two small lakes. The Mazama Ridge trail starts on the east lake. The lakes are bordered with wildflowers in the summer, the fall color come back in Autumn as well.
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| Mt Rainier reflected in the Reflection Lake, 07/31/2017 |
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| Thistle in the Sunrise, 07/31/2017 |
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| Enjoying the Sunrise in the Reflection Lake, 07/31/2017 |
Indian Hunting Ground via Kautz Creek
This is about 13 miles' trail, staring on Kautz Creek trail head, pass through Indian Henry's Hunting Ground, and arrive at Mirror Lake underneath of Mt Rainier. The Kautz Creek TH is about 4 miles west of Longmire visitor center.
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Trail to the Indian Hunting Ground/Mirror Lake
07/31/2017 |
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| Meadow of the Indian Hunting Ground, 07/31/2017 |
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Meadow of the Indian Hunting Ground
07/31/2017 |
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Junction between Indian Hunting Ground trail and
Wonderland Trail, 07/31/2017 |
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Mt Rainier Reflected in the Mirror Lakes
07/31/2017 |
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Mt Rainier Reflected in the Mirror Lake
07/31/2017 |
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Meadow of the Indian Hunting Ground
07/31/2017 |
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Meadow of the Indian Hunting Ground
07/31/2017
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The Bench Lake
The Bench Lake is just few miles east of Reflection Lake. I started the hike from the Snow Lake TH at 5:10am, and arrived at in 17 minutes at the moderate pace.
You can follow the trail to go another 0.3 mile, you will be in the Snow Lake, which is another alpine lake under the Unicorn Peak.
Because of the heavy snow last year, the lake is pretty full, not much beach patch available. The first beam light was pretty awesome - green trees, magnificent Mt Rainier, beautiful reflection.
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| First sunlight on Mt Rainier at in the Bench Lake |
Off course you can wait until the side and front trees are lighted up:
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| Sunrise of Mt Rainier at the Bench Lake |
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