One Best Hike: Mount Rainier's Wonderland Trail. Doug Lorain
Mount Rainier over Mirror Lake
One Best Hike: Mount Rainier’s Wonderland Trail
1st EDITION
Copyright © 2012 by Douglas Lorain
All cover and interior photos, unless otherwise noted, by Douglas Lorain
Cover design: Larry B. Van Dyke and Scott McGrew
Book design and layout: Andreas Schueller and Annie Long
Cartography: Douglas Lorain
Editor: Amber Kaye Henderson
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lorain, Douglas, 1962-
One best hike : Mount Rainier’s Wonderland Trail / by Douglas Lorain.
-- 1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-0-89997-655-6 -- ISBN 0-89997-655-7
1. Hiking--Washington (State)--Wonderland Trail--Guidebooks. 2.
Hiking--Washington (State)--Mount Rainier National Park--Guidebooks.
3. Wonderland Trail (Wash.)--Guidebooks. 4. Mount Rainier National
Park (Wash.)--Guidebooks. I. Title.
GV199.42.W22W654 2012
796.5109797--dc23
2012018030
Manufactured in the United States of America
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Distributed by Publishers Group West
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations used in reviews.
SAFETY NOTICE: Although Wilderness Press and the author have made every attempt to ensure that the information in this book is accurate at press time, they are not responsible for any loss, damage, injury, or inconvenience that may occur to anyone while using this book. Readers are advised to recheck phone numbers, prices, addresses, and other material. You are responsible for your own safety and health while in the wilderness. The fact that a trail is described in this book does not mean that it will be safe for you. The potential for falls, heat exhaustion, dehydration, hyperventilation, or other problems are possible (though not likely). Be aware that trail conditions can change from day to day. Always check local conditions and the weather, and know your own limitations.
Acknowledgments
The help of many people made this book possible. Special thanks go to the following persons:
National Park Service personnel who provided information, read drafts, or otherwise shared their considerable expertise: Scott Beason, Dan Camiccia, Craig Cope, Geoff Walker, and James Ziolkowski.
The people at Wilderness Press/Keen Communications who continue to enthusiastically publish my books and do such a stellar job of turning my initial disjointed writing and mapping efforts into something usable and attractive for you, the reader. On this book, particular thanks go to Amber Kaye Henderson, Scott McGrew, and Molly Merkle.
Most of all, as always, I thank my wife, Becky Lovejoy, who stoically endured much time alone taking care of the dog and house while her husband traipsed off into the wilds of Mount Rainier. Her love and encouragement are invaluable to this book and to my life.
While the contributions and assistance of the persons listed above were significant, all of the text, maps, and photos herein are my own work and sole responsibility. Any and all omissions, errors, and just plain stupid mistakes are strictly mine.
Douglas Lorain
Contents
Mount Rainier and the Wonderland Trail
Blisters, Aches and Pains, and Injuries
Bears, Bugs, and Other Critters
Other Safety Issues
Section Hikes or All at Once?
When to Go
Where to Start
How Long to Take
What to Bring
How to Get to Mount Rainier
Accommodations
Car Shuttles
Food Drops
Getting in Shape and Pacing Yourself
Permits
Leave No Trace Principles and Backcountry Etiquette