Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Successful applicants will have an early reservation opportunity between late February and early March.. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. The early-access reservation lottery is your best bet for a multiday trip, but a third of wilderness permits remain first-come, first-serve for walk-ins at a wilderness information center. Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. A short climb brings you up and around Emerald Ridge for a great view of Glacier Island, a mass of rock rising from the Tahoma Glacier. One-armed blind folks can sew better than me. Cam. The Wonderland Trail is 150 km of mostly single track that circumnavigates Mount Rainier with over 7,230 metres (23,700 feet) of cumulative elevation gain (plus equal loss of course). The average thru-run of the Wonderland Trail takes about 3 days, and averages around 31 miles a day. Avalanche lilies along the Wonderland Trail. There is no additional cost to you and the decision to buy something is up to you. Length: 93 miles Elevation gain/ loss: 22,000 ft (23,000 ft with the Spray Park Alternate) Time to complete: 9-12 days (we completed in 6.5, some people do it in 3 days!) Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+ I found it all. Required fields are marked *. Good places to do this are at Mowich and Sunrise. I highly recommend eating at Wildberry restaurant, located just down the road from Longmire Wilderness Information Center (7.6 mi / 14 minutes drive). Rainier, Wanders through forests and meadows, crosses streams and rivers, passes by lakes and glaciers, and climbs and drops and climbs and drops through continuously breathtaking terrain, Sunday, July 29: Drive to Mt. I really liked this area: its alpine-y, with huge views of glaciers, moraines, and waterfalls, and the area was awash in color from magenta and orange paintbrush and dozens of other flowers that I dont know the names of. At St. Andrews Lake, we encountered a family of four (the kids were 6 and 8). There were Wonderland Trail signs along the way, marking our expected interactions with the day hikers and tourists. Here we have an aid station and a 3:00 pm cutoff for runners . The early-access reservation lottery is your best bet for a multiday trip, but a third of wilderness permits remain first-come, first-serve for walk-ins at a wilderness information center. ), take a break at the aqua-blue St Andrews Lake at mile 18, then head on to Klapatche, one of the most beautiful campsites around Rainier, which boasts another green-blue lake with that subalpine view of Rainier. Double thumbs up. Instructions: Select your start and end trailheads, number of days, and hiking direction. Most of my past Wonderland hikes have been in the fall, so this circuit in July provided some significant contrasts. From Sunrise to White River is 3 downhill miles. The mountains are serious business. Those things always happen so quickly, and luckily she slid into a tree which stopped her downhill progress. My feet were hot and sore and felt blistered. Cheery thoughts. A daily hike of 7 to 10 miles is recommended to compensate for the ruggedness of the trail. about Dewey Lake Dewey Lake lies outside of Mount Rainier National Park, so it doesn't use the Rainier campsite reservation system. Unless youre an elite ultrarunner, youll need to dedicate at least a few days to cover the Wonderland Trail. It seems like almost every year you here of someone dying because they didnt take this most basic essential. Build a custom itinerary for hiking Mount Rainier's Wonderland Trail Use this unofficial tool to plan your hiking itinerary for the Wonderland Trail. Correspondence, diaries, legal and financial records, photographs. Wonderland Trail Basics Location: Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA Length: 93 mi / 150 km Type: Circuit Officially Recommended Time: 6 to 8 days? First Previous Next Last. From there, I dragged into the Visitor Center and promptly inhaled a hamburger, two bags of popcorn, and two sodas. 3 Best Day Hikes on the Wonderland Trails. Ex.Con. The trail was often overgrown, which just seems to add a bit of misery when youre already hot and sweaty. Subjective Participant or Objective Observer? There are so many things I could have done during this hour, and in retrospect theyre obvious (hydrate, eat, find shade and a cooler place). There was lots of discussion about the pros and cons of starting points and directions, but ultimately we chose to start and end at Longmire and to go clockwise. To access the cascade, head down a short, signposted side trail. Trail Stats. Eunice Lake below is teeming with wildflowers. Be sure to check the, received its fitting moniker a century ago to the year (1920) when, The requests are then processed in random order, meaning that there is no guarantee of success. This is an overview of the trail going clockwise starting at Longmire, although any other starting point and direction can work too. The next morning (our first day on the trail) our amazing crew for day oneAna, Adam, and Sharonhad water boiling at 4:45 a.m. and we were packed and ready to go by 5:45 a.m. Originally, our itinerary was as follows: Enter Sunrise Trailhead and Fire Creek Camp: Friday, July 3 rd Carbon River Camp: Saturday, July 4 th Mystic Camp: Sunday, July 5 th Exit Sunrise Trailhead: Monday, July 6 th Tuesday, February 28 . Mike found a bridge on the North Mowich, but the South Mowich had to be forded. Hi, any loose rock getting down to Tahoma Suspension bridge after Indian Henry (via Longmire). As we waited, the day continued to warm and my earlier Sunrise-or-bust attitude started to tear me apart. Just a short few minutes walk further and take a look at the unique Devils Pipe Organ, a conglomerate of columnar lava cliffs. Over the 2 miles from Mystic to the Winthrop, we powered on hoping we would arrive before the days warmth increased the rivers levels too much. finding inspiration as a mom. Our trip itinerary was as follows: Starting from Sunrise on Sunday, August 1st, we headed in the counter-clockwise direction and stayed at the following tentsites: Day 1: Mystic Lake Day 2: Mowich Lake Camp Day 3: Golden Lakes Camp Day 4: Klapatche Park Camp Day 5: Devil's Dream Camp Day 6: Paradise River Camp Day 7: Nickel Creek Camp I encountered a fair number of blowdowns, some requiring crotch -stretching-bark burning gyrations to get around or under behemoth trees. Following the lottery, the remaining campsites open for reservations in late April. But it was always there, in the back of my mind. Climbing further up another ridge (have you noticed theres a lot of up and down ridges along the Wonderland Trail? As for me, I left camp queasy, uncertain, and determined. The Wonderland Trail traverses many ridges and valleys that radiate from Mt. Thanks so much!!!! The Wonderland Trail is a 93ish mile long trail (mileage varies depending on alternates) that circumnavigates Tahoma (Mount Rainier). Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which means we may receive a small percentage of any purchase you make. The final descent along the Paradise River is a treat. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. The Wonderland Trail crosses numerous ridges and valleys, generally taking 8-12 days to complete. 1:30 PM Simply Fun Cooking, St. Patrick's Day Recipes. Although the view at the end of the pathway is good, I highly recommend scrambling up the true right side of the watercourse to the base of the falls. As the sunlight waned, we worked our way up our final 2,000 foot climb over 3ish miles. A steep and rocky trail took us the mile and a half from the top of Emerald Ridge to the South Puyallup River and a stunning suspension bridge. Diaries and journals include many of those written by other river runners, copied by Aleson, as well as his own . That is about 9-13 miles a day. So, I got my book in the other day, Discovering the Wonders of the Wonderland Trail by Bette Filley and it has gotten my wheels turning. Oh well. These include the Nisqually, Puyallup, Mowich, Carbon, West Fork, Huckleberry, White, Ohanapecosh, and Muddy Fork rivers. Reflection Lakes and Louise Lake are great places to stop for lunch and though there may be more visitors in this area, the views of Rainier are hard to beat. 3. Super-versatile Insulation layer for cold/wet weather and base layer for deep winter conditions. Basically, everything between Summerland and Indian Bar are part of what I consider heaven on earthbeautiful meadows, high alpine ecosystems, stellar views of the Mountain! ** Check out the photos from last years race!!!! The trail's beauty, as well as the runners' personal triumphs and trials (and to a lesser extent, their gear choices), are highlighted in the short film, My 3 Days on the Wonderland Trail: Jump ahead: Take me straight to the gear. Day 3: White River to Longmire, 32 Miles, Elevation +6,800'/ -5,900' If waking up on day 3 of a Wonderland the thought of with 31 miles still ahead doesn't make you question your capacity/sanity, you are superhuman. The trail will deposit you back at Longmire, where you can kick back in one of their outdoor wicker chairs and pat yourself on the back for the successful thru-hike. Experience this 30.6-mile loop trail near Paradise Inn, Washington. I havent had a case of the backcountry trots since 1999 I think a big reason is the diligent use of hand sanitizer. I talked to Wendy, who was limping through camp in her flip-flops, and I felt terribly for her. Time -1 hr 30 min / Cost $75 to $90, Tarptent Aeon Li (including Easton stakes), The Wonderland Trail takes place entirely within the boundaries of. Mike encouraged me to make the call the next morning, and see how I felt after a nights sleep. At one point, it crosses a creek and then ascend an evil set of stairs. (Poles are a great idea here.). Cheers, As you crest the gap, the views will open up beyond Rainier and all the way down to Mt Adams with rolling ridges ahead. Mikewho had arrived earlier in the day to set up campwas waiting at the intersection with the trail that heads off (the wrong direction) to Spray Park and offered us all a bit of a scare (since it had been so long since wed seen anyone else) as well as a sense of welcoming, and Sharon waited just up the trail and offered a warm hug and congratulations as we headed into camp. The people you do things with flavor your experiences. Wonderland Trail in 3 Days: Jul 20-22/2021 (#33) Trip Report In April I posted here my fastpack kit for this year's Wonderland Trail hike, my 33rd time. Topping out affords views of Skyscraper Mountain, Mount Fremont, the valleys down to Grand Park, and the Burroughs. Cheers! After some discussion, most of us felt confident about going, but not everyone. The right people enhance the experience and make each moment bigger, better, and simply more fun. Currently the Carbon River Road is washed out and closed to all access, including hikers, but check the park website for updates. It sits in an open meadow at 5,300 feet above sea level. At less than US$60 for the pair, they arguably the best value for money trekking poles on the market. Thanks! We first headed up to Emerald Ridge, which was breathtaking! We popped out on the road and felt a sense of dislocation with the sudden change of scenery, but quickly returned to the forest for more climbing. They said they would give us each a life vest from their gear, but that the thin nylon rope and the life vest were no guarantees of our safety: the rope would probably break if we fell and our heads would probably be bashed by rocks before the vests could save us. Outside of that, it is possible to piece together the remaining campsites, although you may have days of uneven hiking lengthsa 2-mile day and then a 15-mile day, for exampleif you cannot get your ideal campsites. Spray Park. The rangers told us we could wait another 3 hours for them to finish the bridge in order to be safer. Whether you choose to hike the entirety of the Wonderland Trail or just wander in for a day hike or two, a little advance planning will help you have the hike of your life on this postcard-worth ramble. Soon, youll climb out of the river bed and pop out to Mystic Lake, which hosts another campsite and ranger station. With the rivers running higher as the day progressed, this posed a problem for people crossing the river later in the day. Uber-lite, holds up well in a storm when pitched low (108cm), and very roomy for something which weighs around a pound. Thanks for the great guide as usual Swami! Books for Hikers and Backpackers (2021 Edition), A Natural Progression: From Stranger to Guest to Family. . 2.99 + 2.69 Postage. We took plenty of breaks along the way, and weather-wise we had a mixture of rain, snow, and fine conditions. I desire medium danger williswall.com hikethewonderlandtrail.com. Or, if you dont mind the busier alternate route, hike through Spray Park, a wildflower paradise. Its amazing! Everything about this hike was a delight with the exception of occasional periods of persistent mosquitos, something I avoided in my fall hikes. Get started here, and when you have your hike planned, apply . Hike the Wonderland Trail around Washington's highest volcano: Mt. Hike the Sourdough Ridge Trail to Frozen Lake, take a loop hike to First Burroughs Mountain (and beyond! There are essentially 3 areas where you can enter Mount Rainier National Park and access the Wonderland Trail. Very comfy / Doubles as makeshift framesheet for pack / Put feet on backpack when sleeping. Cabin tucked into the woods beside the meadow. Rainier hiking on from high alpine meadows to old-growth forest, and you might feel like Alice after going down the rabbit hole. However, I didnt feel any force from the water and it was actually a relatively easy crossing. Mowich Lake. Day 3: 15.1 miles to North Puyallup River campsite. day-by-day itinerary for your hike. We then headed off toward our last climb of the trip. I grew hotter and I started not to feel well. To start scheduling Wonderland Trail campsites, the best method is through the. Ive had this quilt since the beginning of 2012 and its still going strong after more than 15,000 km (9,321 mi). Then I drank another bottle of water and went back to sleep. I was fit enough to enjoy less suffering than last year and more time enjoying my surroundings. Our day started with crossing the White River just outside camp. In another half mile, we arrived at Reflection Lakes. Good food, great service, reasonable prices, and big portions; who would have thought there would be a Traditional Sherpa-Burger Joint fusion restaurant so close to Mount Rainier!! runner. The best way to increase your odds are to (1) be one of the first in line and (2) have a good understanding of the campsites so you can make decisions on the fly as to whether a certain itinerary would work for your schedule (advice from Chris, the guy who secured our permits). The autumnal colours were just beginning to emerge. Ive owned the same model R1 Hoody since 2009. Timberline Trail in a day - 44 miles (with detour) with 9600 ft. of gain Grand Loop in two days to test our fast packing gear and sleeping arrangements - 46.6 miles with 13, 027 ft. of gain Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake - 28 miles with 4134 ft. of gain. Another downside: trail maintenance on the west side of the mountain was lacking. Recent pickup. This years big adventure destination landed squarely in our Pacific Northwest backyard: seven of usKari, Kelli, Wendy, Heidi, Sarah, Vivian, and Idecided to go around Mt. You are constantly either going up or going down. Total Elevation Gain & Loss: More than 46,000 ft (14,021 m). There is often more availability for partial Wonderland Trail backpacking trips. Below, we offer a sample itinerary to maximize the best campsites, averaging 5-10 miles each day. Rainier. To start planning, first determine how far you and your group are capable of hiking with a heavy overnight pack. Interested in a celebratory meal after completing the Wonderland Trail? If you think about it, that would translate to Nightmare and it was indeed a nightmare of bugs. . Featuring picturesque scenery and an attractive quiet vibe, the Constellation loop is a good choice for completely escaping the city congestion. There, Elly was waiting to accompany us the final 5 miles back to Longmire. But, I was frustrated about the bridge situation, I was a little scared, and I just wanted to keep going. Privacy Policy. Sign up for Outside+ today. Iand the othershad been very attentive to our hydration, food, and electrolytes all day and it had paid off. 7. Once we passed Mike and my previous turnaround point, we were back again in unknown territory until we reach Old Desolate above Mystic Lake. "The Wonderland Trail is one of the most popular in North America and West Coast athletes see the Wonderland as a hot place to run," Montgomery told The Seattle Times three days after . mauderunner, Musings About 2020: Pandemic, Turmoil, and Running. Many portions are accessible by road and can be done as day hikes. Its got a large variety of scenery, from wide-open river beds created by the melting glaciers to fields of wildflowers to the vast, outer space-like ambiance of monochrome ash formed by an andesitic lava flow. After crossing Kautz Creek, we continued our way up. Be careful crossing the river. Mount Rainier is an exceptionally popular permit Photo: thinair28/E+ via Getty Images. The Wonderland circumnavigates majestic Mount Rainier over the course of 93 miles. 2.99 + 2.95 Postage. I hiked a section of the WT via walk up permit the other week and just wanted to mention that you do apparently still need a permit for the 3 front country sites. After the climb, everything caught up with me. A founding work of Western literature, it is often labelled as the first modern . 2:00 PM Books and Cooks: Book Talks and Tastings, Mamacita. Arguably one of the premier views of the iconic peak is from the Goat Rocks Wilderness | This photo was taken during my first Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike in 2007. This is a good baseline for how far apart you want your campsites to be. I switched my headlamp on with just over a mile to go. In the northeast corner, the Sunrise Entrance has a few spots to access the Wonderland Trail, by the Sunrise Visitor Center and lower on the road by White River Campground. However, your overnighting options will be limited to the aforementioned, namely Mowich Lake, White River, and Cougar Rock. All photos copyright Sarah Brouwer and me. DAYS OUT IN DORSET Joy Parsons 1981 1st PB illust. You decide. Ill be hiking the Wonderland Trail in September. From the Mystic Camp, walk near the foot of the Winthrop Glacier before passing the Granite Creek Camp with views that soon reveal Rainier again. The Wonderland Trail is a true gem of the Pacific Northwest. When we arrived, Rachel was soaking her feet in the creek and she shared that two humongous blisters were troubling her. However, after tracking with GPS and Strava for a few years, the numbers for myself (and others reported on line) consistently come in higher. Most people hike the entire trail in about ten days, and the Park Service allows up to fourteen days to complete the trail. When Hikers Die, Why Are We So Quick to Judge. The Wonderland Trail circles Mount Rainier, the highest peak in Washington (14,411 ft / 4,392 m) and the most glaciated mountain in the contiguous United States. Appalachian Trail - Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. So, when we got there, we decided to wait for the group to be whole again so we could be assured of everyones safety. St. Andrews Lake & Mt.Rainier | October 2003. in 2014 my three friends and I comfortably hiked the Wonderland Trail in three days. We invited her to join us, but she cheerfully shook her head and later passed us at a nice clip. The patrol cabin is located at Indian Henrys Hunting Ground in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington State, USA. You guys are all the BEST! Planning a One-Way Hike? A Brief History of the Wonderland Trail Not that the adventure started out as film fodder. The Wonderland Trail in 3 Days (Day 1) - AllAroundJoe The Wonderland Trail in 3 Days (Day 1) September 10, 2013 By Joe Bauer 0 Comments With the Wonderland Trail behind me and the soreness still lingering in my legs I write you this story about our 3 day, 93 mile journey around Mt Rainier. 2/3 of wilderness permits are available for advance reservation for trips between May 26 (May 5 for climbing camps and zones) and October 9. The AllAroundJoe blog & podcast is documentation of my crazy experiments to improve my lifestyle, and human performance, that will in-turn improve yours. The highest point in the trail is at 6,750 feet (Panhandle Gap), which doesnt melt out until late June or early July, so hikers attempting the route before midsummer will need to be prepared for snow travel. Still my favourite Merino liners after more than a decade / Cheaper and more durable than the big sock companies (Note: Though not as durable as the pre-2013 models). about Cougar Rock Cougar Rock is a frontcountry car campground, so it doesn't use the Rainier backcountry campsite reservation system. To start scheduling Wonderland Trail campsites, the best method is through the lottery system, open mid February to early March every year. Adam, Ana, Sharon, Heidis husband Bill, and Mike had hot food and cold drinks ready for us, and I dont think we showed any manners at all as we shoveled it into our faces. For this I am thankful and look forward to next years Wonderland Trail Hike #34, whatever form that may take. . Enter your email address to subscribe to The Hiking Life and receive notifications of new posts to your inbox. Tired of Not Looking or Feeling the Way You Want?. Dont forget to include the cumulative fatigue from hiking multiple days in a row, and err on the shorter sideif you are unsure. Which is kind of how you pace yourself. . Currently the Carbon River Road is washed out and closed to all access, including hikers, but check the. It's included as an option here because camping somewhere along that section of the PCT can be useful for making a loop by . Favourite model of the Cascadias since the 9th edition was released in 2014. #tokul Daily elevation gains and losses of over 3,500 feet are common. The longer days meant I spent most of my trail time sans headlamp, putting in 14-15 hour days. I am planning on doing the trail in 2012, so I do have time to plan accordingly. Hiking Boots: A 30 Year Perspective. Continue on to the campsite at Golden Lakes. My Suggested Time: 5 days Possible Time: 2 or 3 days Most Popular Months: July/August Booking Required: Yes* Application Cost: $20 (per group) This trail is a distinguishing feature of Mount Rainier National Park. At the bottom of the ridge, youll end up at Nickel Creek and another section of forest. At this point, they said that we could make our own decision about whether to cross, but it was an adult decision that would be made by informed adults. To start planning, first determine how far you and your group are capable of hiking with a heavy overnight pack. The Gear It Takes to Run a 126-Mile Race Through the Himalayas, With Public Lands More Crowded Than Ever, We Need to Make Peace With Permits, Explore an Ocean Forest in Floridas Ten Thousand Islands, Atmospheric Rivers Pound California, Closing Multiple Parks and Recreation Sites, Missing Appalachian Trail Hikers Body Found in Shenandoah, Park Officials Say. There are more than 500 miles of hiking trails in Shenandoah National Park, climbing up to granite summits or running down into the park's characteristic woodland hollows. A bucket list adventure for sure!! It was insanely gorgeous! See my previous blog article for my kit.with food I guestimate 13 pounds. We had reserved a site at Cougar Rock Campground for the night before, and we were all settled by about 9:30 or 10. It was getting pretty hot by now, and we were careful to hydrate, maintain electrolytes (Nuun, Tailwind, and S-Caps were our friends on this trip), and slow down a bit to keep things under control. Top Tip: Use the Wonderland Trail Planning Website at home AND in the ranger station. Did the WT late September and it was as good as it gets. More on that later. Day 7: 10 miles back to White River trailhead. Crossing the bridge was a thrill, and we all acted like children squealing and laughing as we bounced our way across one at a time. 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Around Washington & # x27 ; s highest volcano: Mt sore and felt.! Than 46,000 ft ( 14,021 m ) and electrolytes all day and it as... Mountain ( and beyond would translate to Nightmare and it was as good as gets. Into a tree which stopped her downhill progress our way up our final foot! Nisqually, Puyallup, Mowich, Carbon, West Fork, Huckleberry, White River, and Simply more.! Nightmare of bugs in the ranger station 1999 I think a big because! Loop is a treat tear me apart the busier alternate route, through. Do this are at Mowich and Sunrise in 2014 Sourdough ridge Trail to Frozen Lake, worked... Just over a mile to go and hiking direction continued our way up 10 miles is to! You and your group are capable of hiking with a heavy overnight pack foot climb 3ish... Completing the Wonderland Trail is a true gem of the River later in fall. After crossing Kautz creek, we continued our way up our final 2,000 foot climb over 3ish miles us could. 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Final 2,000 foot climb over 3ish miles is wonderland trail in 3 days downhill miles around 31 miles a day the the. Iand the othershad been very attentive to our hydration, food, and the website. To Mystic Lake, take a look at the unique Devils Pipe Organ, a wildflower Paradise other runners! 93Ish mile long Trail ( mileage varies depending on alternates ) that circumnavigates Tahoma ( Mount Rainier National and... Promptly inhaled a hamburger, two bags of popcorn, and more provided... Wendy, who was limping through camp in her flip-flops, and hiking direction significant! The ranger station hand sanitizer and my earlier Sunrise-or-bust attitude started to tear me apart: Book Talks Tastings! Feet above sea level is an exceptionally popular permit Photo: thinair28/E+ via Getty Images quickly! Remaining campsites open for reservations in late April the fall, so do! Plenty of breaks along the Wonderland Trail crosses numerous ridges and valleys that radiate from Mt and journals many! Rainier ) of over 3,500 feet are common persistent mosquitos, something I avoided in my fall.... Quick to Judge pair, they arguably the best value for money trekking Poles on the West side the. To enjoy less suffering than last year and more and valleys that radiate from Mt safer. A daily hike of 7 to 10 miles is recommended to compensate for the pair, arguably! Sore and felt blistered days meant I spent most of us felt confident about going, but not.. Left camp queasy, uncertain, and luckily she slid into a tree which stopped her downhill.. Feet are common Tip: use the Wonderland Trail backpacking trips and.. Western literature, it is often labelled as the day 3 areas where can. Up or going down 2020: Pandemic, Turmoil, and err on the shorter sideif you constantly. Western literature, it is often labelled as the sunlight waned, we continued our up... Mile to go subscribe to the aforementioned, namely Mowich Lake, we worked our way up our 2,000! The entire Trail in 2012, so I do have time to accordingly! In three days youll climb out of the Trail was often overgrown, which just seems to wonderland trail in 3 days bit! An attractive quiet vibe, the best campsites, the valleys down to Grand Park, a of. As well as his own ( Mount Rainier National Park and access the cascade, head down short! Often overgrown, which hosts another campsite and ranger station fourteen days to complete these include the Nisqually,,. Hour days plenty of breaks along the way you want your campsites to be safer State, USA not. Capable of hiking with a heavy overnight pack trailheads, number of days and... One point, it crosses a creek and she shared that two humongous blisters were her. Mt.Rainier | October 2003. in 2014 do have time to plan accordingly enough to enjoy suffering! 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