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Zusatztext "This is an excellent book for a novice hiker who's interested in hiking the Wonderland trail. It's also an excellent book for a more experienced hiker planning to spend time on the Wonderland Trail. Loraine gives exact! detailed advice on what to pack! when to go! what to expect! how to get in shape and so on." --Seattle Backpacker Magazine! October 2012 Informationen zum Autor Douglas Lorain's family moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1969, and he has been obsessively hitting the trails of his home region ever since. Over the years he calculates that he has logged well over 30,000 trail miles in this corner of the continent, and despite a history that includes being bitten by a rattlesnake, shot at by a hunter, charged by a grizzly bear, and donating countless gallons of blood to "invertebrate vampires," he happily sees no end in sight. Lorain is a photographer and recipient of the National Outdoor Book Award. His books cover only the best trips from the thousands of hikes and backpacking trips he has taken throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. His photographs have been featured in numerous magazines, calendars, and books. He is described by the Seattle Times as the "next great Northwest trail guide author." Klappentext This highly informative guide provides readers with everything they need to know about hiking Mount Rainier's Wonderland Trail. Leseprobe Section 1: Longmire to Mowich Distance: 34.1 miles A majority of those who hike the entire Wonderland Trail begin at Longmire and travel clockwise. Thus, the first section you will probably tackle is around the west side of the mountain between Longmire and Mowich Lake. This is a long and relatively tough section, with lots of ups and downs and some steep trails. It is also outstandingly beautiful, so you don’t have to wait to get to the good stuff. The scenery at Indian Henry’s Hunting Ground, Emerald Ridge, Klapatche Park, and Sunset Park is as good or better than anything else in the park, or just about anywhere else in the United States for that matter. Surprisingly, this section also provides solitude. With the permanent closure of the flood-prone Westside Road, day hikers can no longer reasonably explore most of the trails here. As a result, Wonderland Trail hikers typically share the scenery only with other backpackers. Before setting out, it’s worth investing a little time checking out the historic buildings around Longmire, formerly the park’s headquarters. The two most important of the many log structures here, at least for the hiker, are the Longmire Museum and the Longmire Wilderness Information Center, both about 75 yards from the Wonderland Trailhead. The small museum offers fascinating displays on the natural and human history of Mount Rainier National Park and includes a gift shop where you can pick up postcards, a wildflower guide, or that ever-popular T-shirt. The museum is directly across the Longmire access road from the Wonderland Trailhead and is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily July 1– September 5 and 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. the rest of the year. The wilderness information center is just east of the trailhead and is where you should go to pick up your reserved permit (or ask about a first-come, first-serve permit) and to inquire about the latest trail and weather conditions. The facility is open 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. daily July 1–October 10. The Wonderland Trail starts beside a small sign just a few yards east of where the Longmire access road leaves the Longmire-Paradise Road (also known as WashingtonHighway 706). Ascending gradually through a typical low elevation forest dominated by western hemlocks, Douglas firs, and western red cedars, the wide trail climbs beside the road for 0.1 mile before splitting to start the loop. For the clockwise loop you bear left at the fork and continue paralleling the road for just less than 0.2 mile to a crossing of the highway,...
