Indian Bar
I couldn't let a rare opportunity pass, so I snagged a backcountry camping permit for Indian Bar in Mt Rainer National Park. This has been on my must-do list for years, but the stars never seemed to quite align. This year, part of the Wonderland Trail that circumnavigates the mountain was closed due to fires, so many of the people doing the full loop bailed on their permits, freeing up reservations for this high-demand location. So I took advantage of the situation, and went on my first backpack in 3 years! With a significant shift to stormy fall weather on the near-term horizon, I lucked out with a perfect first day ... blue-skies and warm temps, with the mountain out in its full glory. A long approach with significant elevation gain tested my fitness, but the views in all directions during the latter half (on Cowlitz Divide) were quite distracting and motivating. Some of it was Sound-of-Music level! And Indian Bar itself is incredibly beautiful....