Our actual GPS track showing our path and camps (green tents).
A topographic view of our route. We climbed the equivalent of going to the top of Rainier... 2.5 times!
Day 1 - Longmire to Pyramid Creek
The Wilderness Information Center where you pick up your hiking permit.
Packing our initial load of food.
Over the next 12 days we would get to see this mountain from every angle.
If all goes well, we will be back at this same point in 12 days.
Day 2 - Pyramid Creek to South Puyallup
Breakfast at our first camp - Pyramid Creek.
And so the snow begins...
This will be a small pond... eventually.
Indian Henry's hunting ground... we took an incredible nap on the porch after eating lunch. Indian Henry's story is pretty interesting (do a web search).
This entire area is normally ablaze with wildflowers at this time of year and is stunning.
While Ryan and I were filtering water, we were talking about how incredibly perfect the vista was. As if right on cue, an elk came out of the trees and walked within about 20 feet of us.
Our first, and highest, suspension bridge. One person at a time! The bridge is 100' high and about 250' long.
Ryan offloading 10 pounds of food from Gina on a long uphill stretch -- she is faking being bummed here...
We are headed to that low point in the saddle to climb up and over Emerald Ridge.
Lots of trees had trunks with multiple bends like this... probably due to the snow.
Top of Emerald Ridge - out of the snow, into the sunlight, what a view!
Traversing the back side of the ridge - we ate dinner at the small clump of bushy trees while watching the sunset.
Few things feel as good as taking the boots off after hiking all day.
Alas, we needed to get going so we could setup camp before total darkness...
Day 3 - South Puyallup to North Puyallup (first half)
Day 3 - South Puyallup to North Puyallup (second half)
Gina contemplating the day ahead - little did we know this would be Hell day.
Rock formation near camp called "Devil's Pipe Organ". Caused by quick cooling lava flows against ice.
