π» Greater Northern Loop - Day 7
π¦ Checking out Eagles Roost. π Lunch at Spray Park. βΊ Bart camps at Cataract Valley. π Casper & Tatyanna lounge at Mowich Lake.
![π» Greater Northern Loop - Day 7](/content/images/size/w1200/2019/01/casper-lounging-at-mowich-lake.jpg)
Date | Start | End | Trip πΆmiles | Today's πΆmiles |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018-08-23 | Mowich Lake | Cataract Valley | 27.9 | 5.8 |
We crashed hard last night and enjoyed a leisurely morning recovering from the later arrival. While I packed my backpack for the next 2 days, Casper & Tatyana planned their afternoon at the lake.
π¦ Eagles Roost
Together, we hike out to see Eagles Roost, the next campsite on the Wonderland Trail and Spray Park beyond. That's where Casper & Tatyana will turn around as I continue solo to Cataract Valley.
![](https://thecodemill.biz/content/images/2018/12/Mowich-Lake-to-Cataract-Map.jpg)
The Wonderland Trail starts out fairly level for the first mile, before gradually climbing to Eagles Roost and Spray Park.
![Bart & Casper at the Mowich Lake Trailhead](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4891/45471192935_1108e16bb8_k_d.jpg)
![](https://thecodemill.biz/content/images/2018/12/Mowich-Lake-to-Cataract-Profile.png)
Just before we reach Eagles Roost we come to an outlook upon Mt Rainier steps of the trail. Time for some selfies. π The air is hazy with smoke from wildfires in Canada but the setting isn't any less spectacular. Mt Rainier continues to dominate the surroundings.
![Hazy Mt Rainier](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1881/30540638678_d7528af8b1_k_d.jpg)
Casper is a different hiker when he is not carrying a backpack. He is in a good mood playing the game Β Pain he and Tatyana invented on an earlier backpacking trip. Think 20 questions to find out the painful experience the other has in mind.
![Bart & Casper selfie](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1891/43500729855_cd85bd5627_b_d.jpg)
![Family selfie](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1894/42599735860_2c4e79d755_k_d.jpg)
Soon after our selfies, we come to the side trail to Eagles Roost. With a name like that we have to check it out. The campsite is a big disappointment. There are no views. The site isn't on a promontory. There is nothing roost-like about Eagles Roost. In fact, it is the worst campsite we have encountered on our hike thus far. Β
π Spray Park
![Casper below a waterfall](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1847/44409001231_75c26039b8_k_d.jpg)
Playing Pain we continue climbing to another side trail, this one leads to a view of Spray Falls, the waterfall that Spray Park is named after.
![Lunch at Spray Park](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4887/46381500701_3c4b2ac6de_k_d.jpg)
Three miles from the trailhead we reach a lovely meadow where we lunch in the sun as low clouds whiz by overhead.
![Dragonfly](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4906/46381499541_805dc4c801_k_d.jpg)
I say goodbye to Casper and Tatyana after lunch. They are heading back to Mowich Lake as I hike up into the clouds. The views are gone. I can't see more than 100 meters in any direction.
![Cloudy](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1844/44359057342_89be49ec82_k_d.jpg)
The trees get smaller and smaller until eventually they're gone entirely as I crest the ridge. The landscape with the limited visibility looks a bit like a tundra.
![Green stream](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1876/44359094552_149e504e29_k_d.jpg)
Just past the ridge crest, I come upon a small snowfield, a first. The trail parallels a rib as it descends into Cataract Valley. It is not very cold but the wind is driving clouds over the drop off on my left.
The further I descend, the better the weather becomes. Soon I can see sunshine across the valley.
![Descending to Cataract Valley](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1857/43500411085_454e770ffd_k_d.jpg)
I have the place almost to myself. During the entire descend I encounter only 1 solo hiker climbing up and a family that is also staying at Cataract Valley.
![The sun is breaking through](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1893/42599720890_491a766f9a_k_d.jpg)
While I'm enjoying my time pushing up and over Spray Park to Cataract Valley, Casper & Tatyanna have returned to Mowich Lake where they read books and lounge.
![Casper's beach vacation](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4864/32512694788_8437f2b07e_k_d.jpg)
βΊ Cataract Valley
Cataract Valley is a pleasant site among trees and blueberries with a lovely creek winding through the campsites.
![Food hang at Cataract Valley](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1875/43500425415_0f36aba633_k_d.jpg)
The blueberries are so abundant that you can pick them from the composting toilets. I'm still puzzled why the two toilets are in the same clearing. π
![](https://thecodemill.biz/content/images/2018/12/30540641958_163d60fefd_k.jpg)
![](https://thecodemill.biz/content/images/2018/12/43500770705_02cbeb91ed_k.jpg)