My Snowy Fourth of July Hike in Mount Rainier National Park

Climbing mountains and toeing snowy ridges are popular pastimes among Pacific Northwesterners. Considering I am now a a resident of Washington, and have been for nearly a year, I figured I’d start joining in on the fun.

Coming from a flat state like Florida, I didn’t have much exposure to high altitude hiking or climbing growing up. I’ve always loved the idea of summiting mountains. However, my only experience doing so was limited to low elevation peaks in the Blue Ridge mountain region. Not to say those hikes weren’t just as beautiful, but the physical demands of high altitude hiking are slightly different from that of lower altitude ascents. 

Part of why I moved across the country to the PNW was to chase a dream so many have come here to pursue: immerse myself in an unfamiliar wild landscape. Fear of the unknown has been a battle at the core of our human existence for eternity. Maybe if I jumped head first into the abyss, I could begin to find answers to some of life’s most puzzling questions. And, along the way, even unlock hidden pieces of myself. 

Since moving west, I’ve taken to the trail several times and enjoyed some outstanding hikes. Mount Si trail, Upper Falls in Wallace Falls State Park, Rattlesnake Ledge — just to name a few. 

But now that I am more confident in my skills and knowledgable of the conditions present in this region, I want to move up the ladder. Literally—by means of doing more high altitude hiking. 

To get a taste of what hiking is like above 6,000 feet of elevation, Bradley and I opted for a trail in Mount Rainier National Park: Mount Fremont Lookout Trail via Sourdough Ridge.

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We both had the holiday off and were itching to get outdoors. Mount Rainier National Park is only about 2 hours away from our apartment, which makes it an optimal spot for us to go day hiking. 

>> Read my account of exploring Mount Rainier National Park earlier in the year!

I had set my alarm for 5am so we could leave by 5:30am. Somehow we didn’t end up leaving until around 8am. I blame our cozy bedsheets and our dog, Harold, who wanted to play outside for longer than usual that morning.

Since we didn’t take off toward the park until much later than anticipated, my nerves started to set in because the forecast showed rain starting around 11am/12pm. By that time, we would only just be reaching the summit of the trail, and would still have to make our descent. For those unfamiliar with conditions above 6,000-7,000 feet, a forecast of rain combined with below freezing temperatures (and the possibility of wind) means snow and sleet are extremely likely. These aren’t the kinds of conditions that provide good visibility, and they can make even the easiest hikes more technical in nature and in practice. 

More on the conditions later…

When we arrived at the Sunrise Visitor Center, the trail up to Sourdough Ridge was completely covered in snow and not visible whatsoever. We managed to find a path of footprints and followed that to the ridge line. 

Once at the ridge, we carefully toed our way up and over. Truthfully, I was scared as hell. One wrong step could mean we go flying down the side of the snow-covered mountain. Not ideal. 

When traversing snowy or icy inclines at higher elevations, it’s probably a good idea to carry an ice axe. That way, if you do go sliding down the face of the mountain you can self-arrest and prevent yourself from falling further out of reach of safety. Note to self: add this item to my online shopping cart.

Once past a handful of sketchy ridges, we made our way to a safer and more stable part of the trail. My heart rate calmed and my hands stopped sweating. 

It was a pretty gentle hike along this path for quite some time. 

At Frozen Lake is where the Sourdough Ridge trail branched out into several other trails. The one we wanted to take was called Mount Fremont Lookout Trail.

The trail began to narrow and steepen as we continued onward toward the Lookout. What was a trail of dirt and the occasional snowfield on Sourdough Ridge became a tight, rocky trail that made me nervous for other reasons entirely. The rock on the path itself was loose and, at points, difficult to walk on. Plus, there was a significant amount of loose rock overhead that could easily slide down on us with a heavier gust of wind. Knowing that was the case, it became my motivation to not stop as frequently. 

We finally made it to the lookout, and were delighted to find only a few other couples at the top. One of the perks of doing more challenging routes like this one is that there are usually fewer people at the endpoint. 

We explored the top of the fire lookout while chipmunks scurried around on the ground beneath us. The views were incredible. Rainier wasn’t visible due to the clouds overhead, but we still had decent visibility of the surrounding peaks and valleys. 

We set up our JetBoil and ate a delicious backpacker lunch—chili from Patagonia Provisions. Sometimes backpacker meals can be hit or miss, but this one was pretty tasty. 

>> Side note, I really love my JetBoil. To check it out for yourself, visit their website or storefront on Amazon!

When we felt a light drizzle we knew we needed to leave and begin our descent as quickly as possible. At higher elevations, rain can quickly turn to snow if the conditions are right. We had only just finished packing up and putting on our outer layers when it began to sleet. Time to go. 

The backs of my hands were exposed to the elements because I was using my trekking poles without gloves (my mistake). My knuckles were getting cut up from the sleet. I did what I could to keep my hands and fingers dry, but I was more concerned about Bradley. He wasn’t wearing waterproof pants, and I could tell he was miserable. Once you catch a chill, it’s difficult to shake. 

Our main priority, aside from keeping dry and warm, was to descend the mountain as quickly and safely as possible to seek shelter from the sleet.

Luckily for us, the sleet only lasted about 30 minutes before it turned into rain. The rain persisted for another 15 minutes until finally stopping. We took a few moments to shed and replace layers to adjust to the now rain-free conditions. 

The sleet and rain actually made the snow fields and ridges easier to pass. The once slushy and somewhat terrifying path became more solid and compact. 

Once we reached the Visitor Center, we decided to stop in at the gift shop to buy a candy bar. We deserved it, after all!

This was an incredible hike, and it definitely built character. I’d never experienced snow on the 4th of July before, but I suppose there is a first for everything!

What are some of your favorite spots to explore in Mount Rainier National Park?