Mother Mountain Loop Hike - Day 1: Carbon River Park Entrance to Ipsut Creek Campground
Distance 5 miles – Elevation Gain – 500 Feet
We drove to the National Park Service Carbon River Ranger
Station at Mt. Rainier to pick up our back country camping permit for our father/son
4-day backpacking trip. We arrived there
around 1:30 pm.
Josh Picking Up Permit
Our back country hike would start and end at the Mt. Rainier
Carbon River Park entrance and would cover a total of 28
miles, with approximately 6300 feet of elevation gain. Not sure this 64-year-old guy was up to the
trek, but I was willing to give it a try.
I hadn’t trained for this trek, unless you count the 45-minute stroll I
took with my fully loaded pack, in the park behind my house. I hadn’t been back packing for at least a
decade or more. Josh, my 31-year-old son, provided me with lots
of encouragement convincing me I was up in great shape and up for the challenge.
Only time will tell if this senior citizen was capable completing this high-altitude
outdoor adventure.
Carbon River Park Entrance
After leaving the park entrance, we travelled along the washed-out
road next to the Carbon River. It was an
easy trek to the campground along a gravel road, with a few washed out spots. The
afternoon sun was beating down. The
bright sun and heat causing me to sweat profusely. Between the sweat soaked t-shirt, and beads
of water rolling off my face you would have thought I just got out of the
shower, or had been sprayed by a water hose.
Trail Leading to Ipsut Creek Campground
We eventually arrived at Ipsut campground after around 2
hours of hiking, and 5 miles of gravel road.
There were a few other hikers camped there. We walked around checking out the different
camp spots and eventually dropped our packs in camp spot #8. I was glad I finally could take off my
44-pound pack. After dropping the pack,
it was hard to walk. It took a while for
my hips and leg muscles to realize I was no longer carrying all that extra
weight.
With the pack off it was time to go soak the feet in the
Carbon River. Walking in the cool
glacier water in sandals was a refreshing change from hot hiking boots and wool
socks. Just what my sore feet needed.
Cool water on hot feet put a smile on my face
We gathered up some glacial water to be filtered back at
camp. Was that a mistake! It almost
clogged our water filtration system from glacial silt infused water.
Gathering water for filtration system
With a fresh supply of water, we set up camp and made
dinner. I had a couple packages of Top
Ramen, while Josh made a rice dish of some kind. A warm meal after a hard day of hiking was
just what this tired body needed.
After dinner we found out there was a cleaner, silt free
water source up the trail about a ¼ mile, at Ipsut Falls. We head up there to check out the falls and
gather enough water for the start of our second day.
Once back at camp, it was time to sit and discuss our day, as
well as determine our plans for tomorrows to Ipsut Pass. My old man mentality had me a little
apprehensive to whether I’m up the 3,500 feet of elevation gain in 3.5 miles to
the top of the pass. I’ll find out
tomorrow how I fair.
As with most mountain campgrounds the bugs were out. We sprayed some 99.5% Deet insect repellant
on our exposed skin, with hopes of not getting eaten alive by the mosquitos and
other biting insects. I don’t think it
helped that much. The bugs still were
assaulting us. I was constantly wiping my
hair and slapping at the bugs that landed on my skin. Josh eventually lite his citronella candle in
hopes the scent would send them flying away.
It might have worked, because in the end I didn’t get too many bug
bites. But I have to wonder if it was
the stench of the dried sweat on my skin that sent them on to sweeter pastures.
We sat around until it got dark and then climbed into our
separate tents at around 9:30 PM. The ground was hard, but at least I had a
thin pad to help soften my sleeping spot.
My back was hurting, my legs where tight, as I tossed and turned to get
comfortable. I sure hope the Tylenol I
took, rejuvenates my aching muscles while I sleep. The rippling, gurgling water of the Carbon
River, as it flowed down the valley, eventually lulled me to sleep on Day 1 of
our high mountain hiking adventure.
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