KYES PEAK AND BLANCA LAKE

Blanca Lake

Last year i set out on an epic one night backpacking trip to explore the upper and less packed reaches of Blanca Lake.
The lake it's self is deserving to be on every hiker's list. But I was looking for solitude and a solid challenge. So I found another way to enjoy the super popular Blanca lake but from many different angles.

Sunset from camp

Instead of hiking down into the lake I hiked up onto the east ridge above Blanca lake for the night. I bivy sacked above a lovely alpine rock outcropping with views of the lake, Kyes Peak, the Columbia Glacier along with Glacier Peak and Mt Rainier.  

Columbia Peak and glacier from camp

Day two, I had planned to Climb Kyes Peak and head out the same way I hiked in but plans changed.
In the early morning as i started my ascending route of Kyes Peak I came across three fellow backpackers who had just finished packing up camp. They too had the same goal in mind, Kyes Peak.
So together up the talus fields we climbed. 

Heading up to the ridge and find the climber's trail with Monte Cristo Peak in the middle

Once on the ridge proper the views were breath taking and at the same time my stomach was tense as the climber's trail nears many shear cliffs.

On top of the ridge with Blanca lake below

Looking up to Kyes Peak with Glacier Peak on the right

Next we ascended a small snowfield/glacier to reach the summit block. The summit block is steep with some lose scree and requires a hard scramble to the top. At about 30 feet from the top i decided to call is quits as the others gave up and were heading back down the trail.

Heading down the summit block of Kyes Peak

 The 30 feet I didn't climb i'm sure is the highest class of scrambling there is and being the lone climber now I optioned to stay safe. Plus we still had a long journey back to our cars and time was not on our side.
After catching up with the three hikers we all decided to take the longer but more scenic route back to the trailhead. The three hikers shared how their friends did the same scenic route a weekend ago. I was game, especially after hearing that it required hiking on and along side the Columbia Glacier.

The Columbia Glacier from near Kyes Peak

Making our way down to the Columbia Glacier was not an easy task. Once the northern reaches of the glacier can be seen the climb down became steep with very loose rock and scree. Our boots were quickly taking in small rocks and pebbles.
Once on the Glacier the temps dropped and the steepness ceased. It was my first time hiking on a glacier and it felt so awesome.

Hiking atop the Columbia Glacier

 Any glacier travel has potential to be very dangerous. The Columbia Glacier on a typical glacier scale is small and we maneuvered it very easily but slowly constantly rerouting ourselves around any possible crevasses or possible weakness in the ice. 

The scenic Columbia Glacier

After an hour the awesomeness turned to an eagerness to feel solid ground.
Once our feet arrived on solid ground again we were overjoyed. We hiked alongside the creek that flowed from the glacier and past the twin falls. 

The Twin falls

Soon we came to Blanca lake at dusk. It was turquoise blue and perfectly still. A great way to end an amazing trek. Then back to the normal trail tread to hike out to the trailhead.
You simply gotta check out Blanca Lake. It really is what everyone says, simply spectacular.

On our up to the ridge

Twin Falls

Blanca Lake with Rainier in the back

Columbia Peak

Looking southwest with my trail friends

Looking south

Looking north from Kyes Peak

Kyes Peak upper summit block

Glacier Peak from Kyes Peak

Sloan Peak from Kyes Peak

TOLMIE PEAK LOOKOUT

At least once a year a I have to visit Mt Rainier if not more. The majestic mountain is so prominent looming above it's surroundings that it's a joy to get high and just relax your eyes on it's snow capped slopes.
It was my first time up to Rainier this year and i wanted to get some time lapse videos of moving clouds over Rainier.
So i headed up to Mowich lake on Mt Rainier National park's NW side. From Mowhich lake there's a short 7.5 mile round trip hike up to Tolmie Peak lookout. From the lookout you have a great vantage point to gaze upon Rainier. 
Most people stop at the lookout but the true Tolmie Peak is just a little farther and offered me solitude.

The clouds were finally clearing at dusk

I set up shop on Tolmie Peak as the clouds slowly started to dissipate. The weather called for the clouds to clear in the evening. The clouds were doing just that but slower than i wanted. So i took a short relaxing nap.
Upon waking up I took several videos hoping the mountain would reveal it's self ......but nothing. On my last video my battery died just as the tip of Rainier was being revealed. Bummer!!!!!!
On the hike out, which was earlier than i planned, i hiked by a fellow photographer who's camera was humming away. He also was capturing some time lapses.
All in all a great beautiful relaxing day!! 
The below pictures were taken mostly with my camera phone.

Fresh Huckleberries from the trail

Eunice lake with the lookout above

Looking down on Eunice lake

A Gray Jay hanging out giving me photography tips

Tolmie Fire Lookout

Mt Rainier finally revealing itself

Mt Rainier from up in the lookout

Mt Rainier from the lookout

Indian Paintbrush

Indian Paintbrush

The trail just above Lake Eunice

Tolmie fire
lookout from Tolmie Peak