{"id":4912,"date":"2023-09-13T20:11:24","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T20:11:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/?p=4912"},"modified":"2024-01-17T01:11:54","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T01:11:54","slug":"skyline-loop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2023\/09\/13\/skyline-loop\/","title":{"rendered":"Skyline Loop"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Saturday, July 22, 2023<\/p>\n<p>We spent an entire week in Mt. Rainier National Park. The first hike we did was in the Paradise area.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>We have spent very little time at Mt. Rainier over the years, but we have visited Paradise twice before, first in 2010 and then again in <a href=\"http:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2015\/07\/22\/mt-rainier-weekend\/\">2015<\/a>. After setting up camp at the Cougar Rock Campground first thing this morning (we made reservations months ago) we drove up to Paradise, grabbed a parking spot before the crowds arrived, and started up the Skyline Trail:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53124383757_2af13f09bc_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It was a gorgeous day! The mountain was out and we walked by many many wildflowers:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53124983681_697577a399_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53125333938_97c9885e2e_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53125056139_e4e83d2cc1_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53125049554_e9955607e6_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53124845041_39655dd24d_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53124889411_19b3d0cd74_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53125289615_7e776bd5ed_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We saw a pika. This would not be the last pika we saw during our week in the park:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53125371188_7df4646dea_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We saw several marmots today:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53132619268_90f19dd5b6_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Trail Loop\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The crowds were as bad as we expected them to be on a beautiful Saturday in July. The woman at the far end of the footbridge is sitting on the bridge, making hikers squeeze past her to proceed:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53125466148_9fd2af9636_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Many people strayed off the trail, despite the signs:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53125382125_126ff8f01e_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131238470_40fe8ab6ea_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking down on the many cars parked alongside the road. Paradise is just out of sight around the corner:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53124981326_0b18a41c79_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53125464543_31499befb3_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53125387145_babdbd4520_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53125469613_4e98fa1962_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53124986276_7b78b199fd_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53125382160_2b900378fb_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53125468613_d67d878978_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128559715_2e1801a948_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128631248_004670e637_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This was an interesting and unique resting place:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131232115_380f40b745_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The golden-mantled ground squirrels here were quite aggressive:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131301923_80b56ce92f_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131301533_4253f926b3_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131026029_e89c9b2b25_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128630568_9c59066b61_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mt. St. Helens poking up in the distance:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53127557457_3a9a40b439_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Hikers going in the opposite direction who decided to leave the trail rather than share it with oncoming hikers:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53130819741_66b9d20f3c_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131231560_8f16f253df_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131300538_4bf5ab29df_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A lingering patch of snow:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131024994_3b0b6f9714_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53130818701_d0456013c0_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Another marmot:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128557985_94af598e4b_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Distant Mt. Hood:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128619753_b801d7d51f_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mt. St. Helens again:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128148026_1c233bbfe5_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A peek at Mt. Adams:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128146726_d58b86165d_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53127555337_c72631da67_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128146146_d81c42bf1d_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128146071_76ebd87604_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131309108_52d8f40070_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This was the high point of the hike and we stopped here for a break, along with lots of other people:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128553680_a8b470b2d2_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128624993_b00d94189f_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Waterfall:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128550945_8eb17b1481_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It took awhile to find with the binoculars, but I finally spotted Camp Muir:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131540517_260e82bdd3_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Trail Loop\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking south to the Goat Rocks on the left and Mt. Adams on the right:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128353959_8cb5304af5_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mt. St. Helens:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128140946_61de91af26_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131033329_03232168fb_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131032784_d9ee8a15fd_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128620078_c05ec46af0_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53128620343_fff8e0f14a_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s Panorama Point below us:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53127549552_644394699a_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53127547427_cc9a224872_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131218015_ee526f5aaa_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131238480_3c09a991be_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Another golden-mantled ground squirrel:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53130229007_2a8914c3be_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131237715_05d938c8f4_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53130825706_0eaae341b4_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131218020_7684f82cca_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Beautiful views as we descend back to Paradise:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53130208062_4119239a1d_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53130804931_f84b37f1ed_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53130804826_abda39c0f8_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53130810931_4dd79485a1_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53131294023_62fb1bb22a_b.jpg\" alt=\"Skyline Loop Hike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This was a great hike, but VERY VERY crowded. I&#8217;m glad we did it; no regrets. But I was also glad to get away from the crowds and go back to our campsite.<\/p>\n<p>Gaia stats: 5.8 miles, 1670&#8242; elevation gain<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Saturday, July 22, 2023 We spent an entire week in Mt. Rainier National Park. The first hike we did was<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2023\/09\/13\/skyline-loop\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Skyline Loop<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4944,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[233,161],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4912"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4912"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4945,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4912\/revisions\/4945"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}