Another year, another summer full of hiking objectives. After last year, I knew that I do better with more substantial and difficult hiking objectives. After completing the Colorado path in 2023, my hiking in 2024 was mediocre. Most of my trips were planned only to plan something, and not due to any real inspiration. A trip ended after a day when I realized that my heart was not in it, another was canceled and another switch when my sleeping pad bogged a bag leak. This left me to complete the only one that had really excited me: the Northern Loop in the Monte Rainier National Park.
Finally I found hiking inspiration. Living in Seattle, the days are often marked in case «the mountain is out.» The «mountain» in question is Mount Rainier, or Tahoma (the indigenous name). I wanted to make the path of the Wonderland since I learned about him. The path of the country of wonders Circunnavega to Rainier, giving hikers a real opportunity to see the mountain from all angles. Despite completing the Colorado path as a solo hiker, I have been distrustful of trying the Wonderland alone. But this year, I’m changing that.
Once I decided that 2025 is my year of wonder, the rest suddenly fell in their place. For a brief period at age 13, I wanted to be a volcanologist. My life was a very different direction, but the fascination remains. If I can walk around a volcano, can’t I do others? There are three great volcanoes within the easy distance (ISH) of Seattle with trails established around it: Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood. Therefore, the PNW TRIMENTTA 2025 volcano was born.
Mt. St. Helens of Abraham’s plains
Trail Lowit
My summer begins with the Loowit path, which circumvent Mount St. Helens. (Lowit is the native name of the mountain). 32 miles, it is the shortest of the three. However, the shortest length does not make it easier. Hiking around Lowit gives me the unique opportunity to experience a subsequent recovery. 2025 is the 45th anniversary of the eruption. The path crosses the explosion zone of 8 miles, where hikers cannot camp. The path is difficult to find in this section, and trees and water are scarce, but it is a rare opportunity to see the rebirth of the earth after the eruption.
Despite the length, The Lowit Trail is known by its resistant nature and its changing landscape. I know that a small landslide will make us do some route during the crossing of a river. They have advised me to bring garden gloves for the stories of strings of the valleys of the river. Landscapes without trees have recovered with wild flower fields. I am delighted to see this unique and marked beauty type.
Challenges/things that make me nervous: Sandy gulleys, steep from which I will have to use ropes to leave; Sun exposure due to the lack of trees; LIMITED WATER
Things I’m waiting for: Wild flowers; marked and steep landscapes; approaching and personal with a truly active volcano
Mt. Hood from about the highest point of Timberline Trail
Timberline Trail
A few weeks after the Lowit path, I will complete the Timberline Trail. More than 40 miles, this loop explores to Mount Hood (Wy’aesta) in Oregon. This path is better known and popular than the trail lowit and even includes some miles of the PCT. I made a 6 -mile section two years ago and I wanted to return since then. As the name implies, the path floats around Treeline. I am excited by the open and nervous views for some potentially challenging water crosses. However, I know that these water crosses will prepare me well for the Wonderland Path.
We are tentatively planning the first night in Paradise Park, an alternative path of Timberline Trail and PCT that is supposed to be full of wild flowers and incredible views. However, hiking days will be a bit longer than Lowit, and the subsequent date means that heat could be a factor in the many exposed sections.
Challenges/Things that make me nervous: Hard water crosses that can be deep in people higher than me; very steep river ups and downs; Find campsites for the group of five with which I am walking
Things I’m waiting for: The section on the tree line; Taking the alternative for Paradise Park for wild flowers; Looking at the stars (asks for the weather)
A straight shot from Tahoma from my Northern Loop walk in September 2024
Path in Wonderland
All this summer leads to this path, 93 miles around Mount Rainier (Tahoma). I wanted to walk on this path for years. I have delayed because the dramatic elevation changes and intimidating water crosses made me nervous to do it alone, but my experience in the Northern Loop last year helped me realize that this is something that I can do a lot.
The permission process for the other two paths is insignificant, but for the Wonderland, it is much more involved. There is an early access lottery, and unfortunately I was not selected. However, I committed myself that I will walk through the Wonderland, regardless of the result of the lottery. That means I am studying the film lottery process. I have been collecting cancellations as I see them, and I already have the first reserved nights. But, it is likely that I still find myself in a ranger station of the Rainier National Park at dawn this summer hoping to ensure a complete circuit. Think of good thoughts for me!
If I succeed, I will have 8-10 nights of excursion from top to bottom (and up and down) around this beautiful mother mountain. Monte St. Helens and Monte Hood are beautiful, but Mount Rainier rises over both. My horizon also dominates home in Seattle. This path is notoriously difficult. My more than 15 miles on the Colorado path would probably be very difficult to emulate here. I have been training hard and I am ready and excited by the challenge.
Challenges/Things that make me nervous: Cross of difficult water where bridges may or may not be out; extreme elevation changes; The nervous packaging permission process that means that I do not know if I can make the complete loop up to two days before doing so
Things I’m waiting for: Rainiest from all angles; Know exactly where I am camping every night; A long solo walk (my only planned this year)
That is the summer of 2025 in hiking! I am ready and excited to circumvent three beautiful volcanoes in my house here in the northwest of the Pacific.
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