Boyd Massie
Burroughs Mountain has three summits – First, Second and Third Burroughs. You can hike the Burroughs Mountain Trail up and back, or make a loop like our hiking group did. ASCENT: Sunrise Rim Trail from the Sunrise parking lot, which briefly connects with the Wonderland Trail (near Shadow Lake) and then to Burroughs Mountain Trail. DESCENT: Burroughs Mountain Trail to North Burroughs Mountain Trail (near Frozen Lake) and finally Sourdough Ridge Trail back to Sunrise parking lot. It was a surprisingly cold and windy morning with little to no view of Mount Rainier for the entire morning. The weather can fluctuate greatly at this elevation – come prepared with plenty of warm layers and rain gear. The trail was snow free and climbs steadily up the rocky terrain. Trail is in good condition and the traffic was very light. The terrain is quite barren and you are fully exposed when the clouds break. Be sure to bring extra sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water on sunny days. You reach the open top of First Burroughs Mountain at roughly 7,000 ft. 1/2 mile later you reach Second Burroughs (7,400 ft), a popular destination for most day hikers. The push to the third and final point is worth it, especially if the weather cooperates and you have a view of Mount Rainier and beyond. We were VERY fortunate that the mountain "came out to play", just as we arrived at the intersection. **NOTE: There is no official sign for Third Burroughs (or the First and Second that I saw). You will come to a sign that says Burroughs Mountain Trail with arrows directing both ways - and you will see a path to your right leading up toward Mount Rainier. Take this path to your right, or you will descend quickly toward Glacier Basin Trail. The remainder of the trail up to Third Burroughs remains steep amid the tundra-like environment. We crossed one small snow field - perfectly safe (but other times of the year, be careful). Third Burroughs Mountain, standing just over 7,800 ft elevation, provides the perfect perch for stunning views of Mount Rainier! Emmons and Winthrop Glacier, Little Tahoma and the endless amount of sights are also bound to amaze. I found it very interesting to see the vast evidence of volcanic activity – much more prevalent than the Paradise side of the mountain. Found it hard to leave Third Burroughs, but deliberately stopped for glimpses of Rainier from many different angles on the descent. Traffic and crowds increased as the day went on. Enjoyed completing the look by hiking Sourdough Ridge Trail down to a busy Sunrise parking lot.
5.0
Arrived at the Barlow Pass parking lot at 6:55 on a Thursday morning, ready for a grueling adventure and personal challenge: to complete Gothic Basin, explore Monte Cristo Ghost Town and tackle Glacier Basin – all in one day. To do this, I know I needed to start early and bring a mountain bicycle in order to conserve some energy. PART 1: GOTHIC BASIN I took to my bicycle and peddled down the hill (go left) on the gravel road until you see the big metal gate (to the right). This is the road that will take you to Monte Cristo. My first stop, though, was to hike to Gothic Basin (9.2 miles RT). The new trail is being worked on - go straight at 'Proceed at Your Own Risk' sign. Follow the ribbons, which take you around the washout area. Had to walk my bicycle by my side occasionally, which wasn't a big deal considering the amount of waking it had already saved me (and would later on). Arrived at the Weden Creek Gothic Basin #724 trail ~1 mile in. Parked my bicycle next to the trailhead and started hiking at 7:15 am. The trail is flat at first, following the river and traveling across the occasional wooden boardwalk. It then cuts across a stream and starts pushing upward. Rocky terrain and tricky footing are given relief by periodic switchbacks. Break out of the trees once you reach DNR Managed Lands (there is a sign) and enjoy expansive views of neighboring peaks, the valley floor below and towering peaks above you. The trail becomes more rugged as it steepens, but remains easy to follow. Entered Gothic Basin at 8:55 am. Follow the trail to the right if you want to visit Foggy Lake. The lake more closely resembled a pond, but still offered nice reflections of the rocky terrain surrounding. Beyond the lake, I spent an hour doing a small loop around the basin. There are quite a few fairly distinct trails to follow so you "Leave No Trace." Quite a few picturesque camping spots, 2-3 of which were occupied at the time. There's also a beautiful multi-teared waterfall that leads to an impressive overlook above Weden Lake. Overall, a beautiful area with much to explore. Started my descent at 10:10 am. Passed 8 other day hikers and 2 groups of backpackers. Arrived back at the Weden Creek Gothic Basin #724 trail at 11:10 am. PART 2: MONTE CRISTO GHOST TOWN Grabbed my bicycle and easily crossed the shallow river by hopping across rocks. Might have to seek out a log of two other times of the year when the river might be higher. Crossed two wooden bridges along the way to a short but gnarly part of Monte Cristo Road where large gathering of rocks make it difficult to walk and impossible to ride a bicycle. Bounced my bicycle beside me. There were quite a few uphill sections that forced me to walk the bicycle beside me, but was still able to ride about half the distance. Ditched the bicycle and did a quick walk through the Monte Cristo Townsite, trying to envision what it would be like to live in this small mining town in the 1890s. There are mostly wooden signs pointing out where certain buildings were once built, but there are some structures still standing and a few relics remain scattered around the area. Perhaps the most interesting was the Railway Turntable, which was used to turn the train the opposite direction... still rotates! Pamplets from the Monte Cristo Preservation Association are available along your tour - this include a map and some interesting historical facts. PART 3: GLACIER BASIN Follow the signs to Glacier Basin as you wander through Dumas Street and the rest of Monte Cristo. I departed from the official Glacier Basin No. 719 trailhead at 12:20 pm. The first part of the 2+ mile trail is a shaded old forest road. The trail then narrows and climbs steadily. In the distance, Glacier Falls cascades beautifully down massive rocks and craggy peaks spike the horizon. Once you reach Glacier Falls, the trail intensifies and the incline is significant. At one point there is an option to grab a rope to help propel you forward (and allow you to hold on as you descend as well). Lots of elevation gain, obstacles and scrambling from here to the top. Arrived at Glacier Basin at 1:10 pm. A pretty basin, smaller in comparison to Gothic Basin, but one that features more ominous peaks surrounding it. More vegetation, too. There are massive rocks sitting throughout the basin and a creek that calmly meanders around them. A few snowfields covering the rock slides above. Plenty of evidence of mining activity in the form of cables, pipes and the holes (now blasted shut) on the hillsides. Explored the basin for about 45 minutes and then made it back into "town" by 2:35 pm. THE ROAD HOME (BRING YOUR BIKE!) This is the part where the bicycle really pays off. Instead of walking the 4 miles back to Barlow Pass, I was able to ride (or rather, coast) the majority of the way back from Monte Carlo. And when there are already at least 20+ strenuous miles logged already, it is a complete joy to not walk anymore. Arrived back to my vehicle at 3:10 pm.
4.0
First on the scene to the Putvin trailhead at 7:15 AM. The Putvin Trailhead #833 is located 12 miles up the Hamma Hamma River Road (Forest Road 25), past the Lena Lake parking area and after you travel ~5 miles on unpaved road. Be on the look for a turnout for parking on the left and the trailhead on the right. The first part of the trail is moderate, so enjoy it. You will reach an old road and see a new trailhead sign stating you have 2 miles to go. From here, the trail climbs aggressively ALL the way up to the lake. A true thigh burner and you will be drenched in sweat. Difficult hike up, with some extra steep areas and scrambling needed, but very achievable for those who love a challenge and are in better shape. There are a few tips to keep in mind so you don't stray from the trail: 1) after you complete scrambling up what some refer to as the "Headwall," look for a small rock cairn to the left. 2) after you pass the first pond, TURN LEFT. You will see cairns, a flag on a stick and a make-shift log foot bridge. Cross this and then TURN RIGHT - you will see a small flag on a tree. You may cross other areas in the meadows and on the trail that you need to pay attention, but just look for the most prominent path and cairns. The beauty of this hike is mesmerizing. And the setting for Lake of the Angels is gorgeous! I will say that the lake itself didn't quite live up to my expectations, but it's still a pretty alpine lake. Saw 3 grouse on the hike up, frogs and tadpoles in the many ponds along the way, 3-5" fish rising in the lake...and the highlight of the trip: mountain goats!! I had the pleasure of watching a family of 3 (saw 8 total) up-close. Bugs weren't too bad, all things considered. Horse flies, deer flies and some mosquitos were definitely present at the lake, so apply bug spray. Bugs intensify the closer you are to the goats. My total time on the trail was 4 hours (2.5 up; 1.5 down). At least 7.5 miles (if not more) roundtrip. Overall, such a memorable trip - loved it!
5.0
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