7-25-20
I
needed to be home early so I just did a short drive to Tiger Mountain.
I was on the trail at 7:14 am. There were only three other cars. I
hoped to get up and down before the Saturday morning crowds appeared.
It was only 53 degrees as I started out. I headed up the High Point
trail. Left on the TMT and then up the mountain. Part way up I was very
surprised to see a perfect patch of Indian pipe growing right near the
trail. I can't recall seeing it on Tiger Mountain. It is a sapraphyte
that grows without Chlorophyll. It is bright white. Not a touch of
green in sight. I generally don't bother putting up a trip report for
Tiger but I want to have my Indian pipe photos online.
The plan to beat the crowds actually worked. I saw only four people as I hiked up Tiger 2 then down and back up to Tiger 1. It was a little hazy but I had a good look at Mt. Rainier from the Hiker's Hut viewpoint. I only stayed a few minutes then headed on. I took the short spur up to the top of Tiger 1 then walked down the road and out of the forest. The view of Seattle was hazy. There were some clouds on the Cascade front. Mostly, it was clear. Time for a short brunch break. A lone runner came up the road and then turned around and quickly was out of sight. Soon I was on my way down to the trail then over to the Preston Trail. I usually do this loop clockwise but I expected fewer folks doing it in the other direction. I think I was right.
I saw a few more folks on my way down. It was never a crowd. Most had masks. The runners did not. I took 1:45 just to get up Tiger 2. I came a longer distance down Tiger 1 much faster. I was back at my car at 11:00 am. There were now a dozen or so cars. I saw only 14 people over 8 miles and just under 4 hours. With a coronavirus around I still don't want to do any crowded hikes. This one definitely qualified. A fun morning on the trail and one of the best Indian pipe displays I have ever seen.
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Trips - 2020
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The plan to beat the crowds actually worked. I saw only four people as I hiked up Tiger 2 then down and back up to Tiger 1. It was a little hazy but I had a good look at Mt. Rainier from the Hiker's Hut viewpoint. I only stayed a few minutes then headed on. I took the short spur up to the top of Tiger 1 then walked down the road and out of the forest. The view of Seattle was hazy. There were some clouds on the Cascade front. Mostly, it was clear. Time for a short brunch break. A lone runner came up the road and then turned around and quickly was out of sight. Soon I was on my way down to the trail then over to the Preston Trail. I usually do this loop clockwise but I expected fewer folks doing it in the other direction. I think I was right.
I saw a few more folks on my way down. It was never a crowd. Most had masks. The runners did not. I took 1:45 just to get up Tiger 2. I came a longer distance down Tiger 1 much faster. I was back at my car at 11:00 am. There were now a dozen or so cars. I saw only 14 people over 8 miles and just under 4 hours. With a coronavirus around I still don't want to do any crowded hikes. This one definitely qualified. A fun morning on the trail and one of the best Indian pipe displays I have ever seen.
 Patch Of Indian Pipe |
 Closer Look |
 More Indian Pipe |
 Closest Look |
 Last Indian Pipe Shot |
 Another Fungus |
 Coralroot |
 Road From T2 To T1 |
 Mt. Rainier |
 Cascade Peaks |
 More Towers |
 Flowers |
 More Fungus |
 Last Fungus |
Trips - 2020
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