First / Second Burroughs Mountains
My photos with Mt Rainier in the background were all shot towards the sun - no other choice. So the colors and saturation / contrast weren't as nice as I'd like...
We headed north from the visitors center to the Sourdough Ridge trail. This trail took us west to Frozen Lake. From there we headed south to First and Second Burroughs Mountains.
The elevation at Second Burroughs was 7400 feet. The temps were in the upper 60's with some wind. It was a gorgeous day.
On the way down, we turned right at the trailhead atop First Burroughs Mountain. This trail took us to Sunrise camp. In addition to being the long way back, it was a rocky, rough descent to the camp, which was below Sunrise. This meant our final mile was all uphill - just enough to remind us of how tired we were. It was also somewhat intimidating, with a severe drop at the edge of the trail for a time. Next time, we'll return the way we came. I think if we had taken the loop the other direction, we probably would have turned back, intimidated by the trail and climb.
Links:
http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/upload/sunrise_trails.pdf (map)
http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Burroughs_Mountain_7602.asp
http://www.wta.org/~wta/cgi-bin/wtaweb.pl?3+tg+fetch+english+1139
Mt Rainier as seen from the trail leaving the visitors center headed up toward Sourdough Ridge
From the top of Sourdough Ridge looking north.
Mt Rainier from the Sourdough Ridge trail looking South
Mt Rainier from the Sourdough Ridge Trail looking southwest.
Mt Rainier from the Sourdough Ridge Trail looking south
At the base of the trail at the foot of the trail to the top of First Burroughs Mountain.
On the trail on FIrst Burroughs Mountain.
We made it... Whew.. Time for lunch. The trail in view is along the top of First Burroughs Mountain. The lower flank of Second Burroughs Mountain is at the right of the photo in front of Mt Rainier
Another shot from on top of First Burroughs Mountain with Mt Rainier in the background. The three primary visible glaciers are Emmons (left), Inter (small, near center of photo) and Winthrop.
Also taken from First Burroughs Mountain, with Second Burroughs Mountain clearly visible at right. You can see the trail that takes you to the southern viewpoint.
From the souther tip of Second Burroughs Mountain, looking south.
The top of Emmons Glacier. Websites indicated that there is a climbing route on Emmons and that cimbers can sometimes be seen with binoculars. We didn't notice any on this day.
Chipmunks were everywhere. this one posed briefly before deciding I didn't have any food and he moved on to his next mark.
As I began heading back down Second Burroughs Mountain, I'd look back and take some shots with my telephoto...
Looking up the trail on the way down. Another group is on the way up. The trail was very busy between Sunrise and Second Burroughs Mountain
I like this shot - the way it's almost perfectly divided in two - Second Burroughs Mountain in the foreground
Another shot of Second Burroughs Mountain in the foreground
This shot is a bit blurry, but I thought it was kind of cool. The dirt is really the toe of Emmons Glacier, and the water that is visible is the source of the White River
A shot of Mt Rainier from the trail descending to Sunrise Camp.
