Burroughs Mountain Loop

[tiggymalvern]

On Friday, I got down to Mount Rainier National Park, and hiked the Burroughs Loop, which is one of my favourite hikes ever. There was some haze around, so the views weren't as insanely mind-boggling as they sometimes are. This aided my determination NOT to take photos of the mountain from every possible angle as I often do when I go there.


Frozen Lake, at a trial intersection below the slope of Mount Fremont. The colours in it can be amazing some days.


A mountain goat snoozing in the sun. It's not common to see them in the open in the middle of the day, but I spot them every now and then.


Looking back on Frozen Lake from the trail up to First Burroughs.


Horned larks flitted around in the rocks at the top of First Burroughs.


In this shot, you can just about see one of the horns that give them their name.


Looking north across the valley of Bear Park and the Cascades range from near the top of First Burroughs.


Me where the trail dips down between First and Second Burroughs.


It's no fun being a tree attempting to grow a thousand feet above the treeline.


A golden-mantled ground squirrel at the top of Second Burroughs.




Sit on a rock in the sun at 8,000 feet and look across to Mount Rainier/Tahoma towering over you at 14,000 feet.


You can tell that people have been ignoring the rules about not feeding the wildlife when the golden-mantled ground squirrels are quite so keen to share your lunch rock.




And grab at you with their little hands.


Most of the alpine plants have finished flowering, but a few were making one last attempt.






This one was along the trail back down, on the other side of First Burroughs.


Looking back towards Tahoma/Rainier along Emmons glacier and the origin of the White River.


Back down at the treeline, you find Shadow Lake among the mountain meadows.


And some different kinds of flowers persisting, though most had long gone to seed.


Another moist meadow as the colours of the grasses start to change.


7 miles around the loop and only 1300 feet of gain, so a relatively light hike, but the altitude makes it feel a bit more. An absolutely gorgeous late summer day for it.

Comments

[bymyverytoes]

You still have time for summer pretty! Lovely pictures. Mountain goats are so much fun, and so are naughty squirrels, though I wish people would NOT feed wild animals!

Yu're looking very good, and glad to see your face ❤️

[tiggymalvern]

I always look my best when I'm sweaty and windswept XD

I too wish people would understand why they shouldn't feed the wildlife. Even when the outcome is so darn cute...

[tameiki]

The day looked to be about perfect for your hike and wildlife gazing. That little ground squirrel has definitely lost all wariness of people and even learned how to beg for human food. Ugh. While adorable to look at, I wish more people would be mindful of the harm they are doing. We've been seeing mule deer more often around our place lately. We don't do anything but keep our distance and admire. The birds, however...we feed the sparrows, finches, mourning doves, and prairie quail birdseed. There's one cotton tail who also likes the birdseed we put down.

How many more hikes do you think you'll get in before the weather puts a stop to it for the year? Your smile is as bright as ever. Thanks for including that! ❤

[tiggymalvern]

It was an AWESOME day. Sadly, the weather forecast for the next couple of weeks isn't good (and I'll be gone for one of them anyway). Some years I can hike high elevation until mid October, other years the weather closes in earlier.

I do feed birds at my house, but not all the time. I feed them through the winter, then mostly leave the feeders empty through nesting and baby bird season, because I want them to eat more appropriate foods. the only ones I feed all year round are the hummingbirds - humans have already artificially extended their range anyway just by planting more flowers in our gardens.

[anirrationalseason]

Great picture! You look like you're having fun. :)

And my goodness those gorgeous views. That little guy there reminds me of a chipmunk who accosted us on our trip to Rocky Mountain National Park (clearly the tourists ignored the warnings too, since he jumped right up onto my shoe and started begging for a treat!).

[tiggymalvern]

What could be more fun than 80F in the mountains? :-) Though maybe not the place and time for a glamour shot!

The Burroughs loop is just amazing. A lot of hikes are forest all the way up and then it's pretty when you get to the destination. There is nowhere along that seven miles up there, though, that isn't fantastic to look at.

[silverusagi]

So many critters! The squirrel clearly wants to be friends.

[tiggymalvern]

I don't think it wanted to be friends so much as it wanted my sandwich XD But I do love the wildlife that lives all the way up there. They survive a very long winter at those elevations, they have to be adaptable.