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If You Go
Thursday, August 10, 2000 Plan ahead before beginning the trek
Background, Related Info:
If you want to hike the entire Wonderland Trail this summer, you're not alone. Make your plans soon. Backcountry-management policy at Mount Rainier National Park mandates that 60 percent of the Wonderland Trail's 18 trailside campsites may be reserved in advance. The remaining 40 percent can be claimed in person by walk-up hikers no more than 48 hours in advance of their departure date. Backcountry permits and trailhead parking are free within the park. Advance backcountry reservations, though, involve a $20 fee. That may seem steep, but it's not bad for peace of mind. It's comforting to know you are assured of the overnight destinations of your choice before you leave home. The park also charges a $10-per-vehicle entrance fee. After a moderate winter, advance reservations are in great demand this summer, says wilderness ranger Bob Miller. If you call, have a preliminary itinerary already sketched out, but be flexible. It's likely you'll have to make a few, perhaps several, adjustments to your desired trip. Most people start in Longmire and travel in a clockwise direction. That's the typical trip described in guidebooks. You might have better luck getting the sites you want if you start at a different location (Sunrise; Mowich Lake; Box Canyon) or hike counter-clockwise. It's also possible to camp in off-trail cross-country zones, but that will add to the rigors of an already demanding trip; finding flat spots for your tent is tough. Trail sections near Mystic Lake and Golden Lakes suffered damage this winter. Still, Miller says through-hikers managed to complete the circuit without incident as early as mid-July. Good weather often lasts into September.
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