I headed to Mt Rainier yesterday now that the pass is open and the trails are visible again. The Shriner Peak Fire Lookout is a tower in Mount Rainier National Park built in 1932. The lookout is on the east side of the mountain, so the view is a bit different than we are used to here in the Seattle area. The weather was a balmy 70° at the start of the hike which felt awesome. After a mile it felt hot. I've learned the art of wearing layers on my hikes, so I was prepared. This was a pretty difficult trail that starts steep and doesn't let up until you dip into a snow-filled basin before the final ascent to the fire lookout at the top.
I passed a couple of guys going down prior to the basin who hadn't made it to the top. I could see why once the trail disappeared. There were a couple of old boot tracks that were difficult to follow. It looked like someone was there a few weeks ago. They were obviously lost too because the tracks would head in one direction and stop. I followed a set of prints from a small-footed hiker about 40 yards before realizing they were elk tracks...
If I hadn't downloaded the trail map and had my iPhone to follow via GPS, I would have been screwed because I was so turned around I didn't know where I came from. There was at least four feet of snow and no trail to be seen. But, I eventually zig-zagged my way through and connected with the trail again about a quarter mile from the top. Seeing that lookout was a huge relief.
Going down I had a similar problem because my tracks went in so many directions. Of course I followed the wrong ones and had to rely on the map again. Eventually the snow thinned out and I hit the dirt again. Lots of signs of elk, deer and some scat from a coyote, bobcat or bear. Whatever it was, they ate something with lots of hair. There was a strong musk scent in one area, but I never saw anything.
Waterproof boots, gaiters and microspikes made the trip comfortable and safe. The photos are pretty crappy because I couldn't find the polarizing filter for my iPhone. I held my sunglasses in front of the lens instead, which is a poor substitute.
Because the snow is melting now, the tree wells are more exposed, but I still managed to nearly fall into a couple that were still covered up. The tree branches shelter the base of the tree and eventually fill with loose snow while the area around it becomes packed. When you step too close to a tree, you can fall into the well, which can be deadly.
Map & Stats
8.4 mile Out-and-back
3434 ft elev gain
The lookout was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1991