Every time I see a video of Washington, whether it be CRG, Rainier NP area, Olympic NP or the North Cascades it always surprises me how much they remind me of my neighboring state of West Virginia... Its almost like looking at pictures of the Allegheny Mountains from 100-200 million years ago when they would have been as large as the WA ranges and gorges/rivers are now... The old growth forest, the creeks and waterfalls, the never ending ruggedness of the peaks and valleys all feel so similar to me... I get the same feeling when comparing my experience in the Colorado Rockies to my times in the Whites or the 'Dacks of the northeast... This post might not make sense to many people but its always something I think about when watching your videos... Thank you guys for bringing is along, and please don't ever stop making these... I want to keep watching you guys do outside stuff in your 90's...
Epic hike, guys! I too have not given the Rainier area enough attention (Central Cascades and the Olympic Peninsula have my heart). I now know that I have to remedy this...
We've both driven through it a couple times, just never got around to hiking it. I think as we check off more of our bucket list items in the Central Cascades, we will start drifting to North Cascades and the Rainier area more often.
Suntop Mountain also has a cool lookout tower. Great video!! Hope to do this lop in the foreseeable future. Glad that you returned from Australia safely. :)
Both of you have great hair and look so attractive in this video. I have always wanted to do some of these hikes and I feel like I have been there after seeing your videos. You are good hosts with just enough input from you.
Will y'all be doing this hike again? I'd love to see the rest of the trail.. keep the videos coming they are inspiring me to come and tackle some of the hikes you do. This one is definitely on my list. Keep up the great videos Happy Hiking :)
Probably wont be filming this hike again. The rest of the loop is in the forest with no real special features that warranted filming it. If I were to do the hike again, I probably wouldn't do the full loop again.
Thanks Tim! I think this was the most amount of water I've seen plummeting down a hike, that wasn't from rain. A lot of fun to cross over all those creeks and rivers.
Cool Hike. I have been wanting to do that one. I am trying out the Viewfinder app that will tell you all the peaks you are looking at. It would be great for you guys.
Bruce, you should get out there soon while the waterfalls are still pounding. Jen had a mountain peak app, but it wasn't that accurate and she kept putting off paying for the paid version. Which one are you using, do you have a link?
I just loaded up an app called ViewRanger. Haven't used it much, but they have a free version to try. I will be heading to the Palisades soon then. Did you see any good areas to hang a hammock?
Hehehe, You're a hammock mad man. ;) Yes, there are quite a few good spots near the major lookouts that would work for a hammock. Highly recommended. :)
Love watching all of your videos! We are doing a hiking and camping trip to Washington and Canada in June and we are so excited! What do you use for all of your footage?
Thanks for another great video. It looks to me like this hike was in same area, and some of the same trails, as the first half of the classic White River 50 Endurance Run, held every year at end of July/beginning of August. Course directions are here: whiteriver50.com/wr50.8.shtml The WR50 race does 27 miles on side of 410 where you were, with second "half" of 23 miles on other side of 410 up to the top of Suntop and back down.
Actually, climbing is a big part of most of these mountain trail races. WR50 has about 10,000 feet of gain (website says 8,700 but that's old, runners' gps tracks average around 10k). The race director likes to show people the elevation profile and joke, "The course only has two hills, but they're big ones!" whiteriver50.com/wr50elevationprofile.jpg Also, I was struck by how much water there was on your early season hike. Most of those streams have dried up to a trickle by late July. That reminds me of something I wanted to ask you guys: Could you start including the actual date of the hikes you do, given that trail conditions can change so much? Maybe in the video itself (on graphic at the beginning?) or in text of youtube description? I seem to recall your editing has sometimes (and understandably) become backlogged, in which case the youtube posting date doesn't tell me much and I found myself wondering when you'd done your trip. Cheers, thanks again.
Good point! While I sometimes roughly mention the season in the video, I will start putting a hike date in the description. As for this hike, we did it almost two weeks ago and in the summer, some of those falls are all dried up.
I really need to get down to Washington for a hike. It's not a whole lot different from the Canadian side, but different enough for me to want to go there. I'm doing a giveaway for a Ursack bear resistant food bag right now (makes a good alternative to a canister, but sadly not allowed as a replacement in some of your national parks where canisters are mandatory). I'm feeling a bit sheepish for promoting my channel in the comments of someone's video (because it drives me crazy when people do it on mine), BUT since you two spend a lot of time above tree line in bear country (more than most people who've entered the contest), I thought you might be interested.
Bears really haven't been an issue for us. Most of the time when we see them, they tend to keep to themselves and we throw the food way up into the trees. A bear resistant food bag would be nice if it wasn't like you said, we can't replace it for those lovely hardened canisters. :)
Every time I see a video of Washington, whether it be CRG, Rainier NP area, Olympic NP or the North Cascades it always surprises me how much they remind me of my neighboring state of West Virginia... Its almost like looking at pictures of the Allegheny Mountains from 100-200 million years ago when they would have been as large as the WA ranges and gorges/rivers are now... The old growth forest, the creeks and waterfalls, the never ending ruggedness of the peaks and valleys all feel so similar to me... I get the same feeling when comparing my experience in the Colorado Rockies to my times in the Whites or the 'Dacks of the northeast... This post might not make sense to many people but its always something I think about when watching your videos... Thank you guys for bringing is along, and please don't ever stop making these... I want to keep watching you guys do outside stuff in your 90's...
Epic hike, guys! I too have not given the Rainier area enough attention (Central Cascades and the Olympic Peninsula have my heart). I now know that I have to remedy this...
Moss. A hole lot of moss down there. Makes it feel real cozy like. :)
Great video guys. Can't believe it's your first time in the Rainier area! Love the Rainier area..
We've both driven through it a couple times, just never got around to hiking it. I think as we check off more of our bucket list items in the Central Cascades, we will start drifting to North Cascades and the Rainier area more often.
Awesome, I will give you this though...you're pretty darn brave, not sure I would hike that knife edge like you do...lol
Wow, this a dream hike! Snow, waterfalls, ridges, little "bridges" and great views along the way. Couldnt ask for more. Thank you guys!
You are welcome! It sure is nice to be back on the trails. :D
Suntop Mountain also has a cool lookout tower. Great video!! Hope to do this lop in the foreseeable future. Glad that you returned from Australia safely. :)
I was looking at the trails for Suntop. I think next winter we will have to add it to our snowshoe hikes.
Both of you have great hair and look so attractive in this video. I have always wanted to do some of these hikes and I feel like I have been there after seeing your videos. You are good hosts with just enough input from you.
Adding this to the next hike list! Our favorite is the Summerland trail. Check it out when you get the chance.
Thank you! And yes, the Summerland is definitely on our list. :D
love your spirit of adventure and partnership with leading each-other and being safe.
Thank you! We always get excited when we get to make it out into the mountains for another adventure. :)
Will y'all be doing this hike again? I'd love to see the rest of the trail.. keep the videos coming they are inspiring me to come and tackle some of the hikes you do. This one is definitely on my list. Keep up the great videos Happy Hiking :)
Probably wont be filming this hike again. The rest of the loop is in the forest with no real special features that warranted filming it. If I were to do the hike again, I probably wouldn't do the full loop again.
Nice video. I was thinking of somewhere to go to on Mt. Rainier this week and this trail looks perfect. Thanks from Tacoma, WA!
Should be amazing weather this week, perfect for this hike. Enjoy! :)
Thanks for sharing. I will try this trail one of these days!!!
Try it sooner than later! The main falls disappear in the summer. :)
Wow what gorgeous place! That first water crossing was beautiful!
Thanks Tim! I think this was the most amount of water I've seen plummeting down a hike, that wasn't from rain. A lot of fun to cross over all those creeks and rivers.
Glad y'all are back love your vids! Check out Grove of the Patriarchs and High Rock Lookout Trail. Short but very rewarding hikes in the rainier area
Thank you! Will give them a look. :)
Amazing views wow !!!! Thanks for sharing .
Ernie
Thanks for watching, Erine. :)
you guys are so adorable
Hehe, thanks :)
Cool Hike. I have been wanting to do that one. I am trying out the Viewfinder app that will tell you all the peaks you are looking at. It would be great for you guys.
Bruce, you should get out there soon while the waterfalls are still pounding. Jen had a mountain peak app, but it wasn't that accurate and she kept putting off paying for the paid version. Which one are you using, do you have a link?
I just loaded up an app called ViewRanger. Haven't used it much, but they have a free version to try. I will be heading to the Palisades soon then. Did you see any good areas to hang a hammock?
Hehehe, You're a hammock mad man. ;) Yes, there are quite a few good spots near the major lookouts that would work for a hammock. Highly recommended. :)
Beautiful stuff dudes....lotta logging in the area, unfortunately. 2 hour drive is not far.
Yeah I agree two hours isn't far. We only considered it far when you can be hiking in one hour vs two.
Beautiful hike! Would it be a good time to hike the first week in june?
With the amount of snow we had this year, I think in the first week of June the water should definitely still be flowing.
Outside & Stuff Thanks so much! Keep up the good work! Love the channel
Thank you! We appreciate the support. :)
Wonderful video! I love the waterfall and streams. Do you have still shots on Instagram?
Unfortunately I did not take any extra photos on this hike other than the one I already posted of rainier.
Love watching all of your videos! We are doing a hiking and camping trip to Washington and Canada in June and we are so excited! What do you use for all of your footage?
your logo is very good looking
Thank you Bruce :)
Thanks for another great video. It looks to me like this hike was in same area, and some of the same trails, as the first half of the classic White River 50 Endurance Run, held every year at end of July/beginning of August. Course directions are here: whiteriver50.com/wr50.8.shtml The WR50 race does 27 miles on side of 410 where you were, with second "half" of 23 miles on other side of 410 up to the top of Suntop and back down.
Jen tells me you are 100% correct. This is the same trail. And I can see why, the trail along the 410 is relatively flat, or conducive to a long run.
Actually, climbing is a big part of most of these mountain trail races. WR50 has about 10,000 feet of gain (website says 8,700 but that's old, runners' gps tracks average around 10k). The race director likes to show people the elevation profile and joke, "The course only has two hills, but they're big ones!" whiteriver50.com/wr50elevationprofile.jpg
Also, I was struck by how much water there was on your early season hike. Most of those streams have dried up to a trickle by late July. That reminds me of something I wanted to ask you guys: Could you start including the actual date of the hikes you do, given that trail conditions can change so much? Maybe in the video itself (on graphic at the beginning?) or in text of youtube description? I seem to recall your editing has sometimes (and understandably) become backlogged, in which case the youtube posting date doesn't tell me much and I found myself wondering when you'd done your trip. Cheers, thanks again.
Good point! While I sometimes roughly mention the season in the video, I will start putting a hike date in the description. As for this hike, we did it almost two weeks ago and in the summer, some of those falls are all dried up.
ahh! you're in my stomping grounds.
It's a beautiful area. Any must hike recommendations?
I really need to get down to Washington for a hike. It's not a whole lot different from the Canadian side, but different enough for me to want to go there. I'm doing a giveaway for a Ursack bear resistant food bag right now (makes a good alternative to a canister, but sadly not allowed as a replacement in some of your national parks where canisters are mandatory). I'm feeling a bit sheepish for promoting my channel in the comments of someone's video (because it drives me crazy when people do it on mine), BUT since you two spend a lot of time above tree line in bear country (more than most people who've entered the contest), I thought you might be interested.
Bears really haven't been an issue for us. Most of the time when we see them, they tend to keep to themselves and we throw the food way up into the trees. A bear resistant food bag would be nice if it wasn't like you said, we can't replace it for those lovely hardened canisters. :)