8.1, Saturday. The flowers were incredible. In comparison, flowers were about to dry out in Sunrise area, but almost no bugs, less tourists and the mountain looks whiter. Hiked the Skyline loop, and Golden Gate trail. The lower parts were filled with flowers (especially the Golden Gate trail), and upper parts were more rocky and desolate, with patches of snow melting fast. 84F at the visitor center in Paradise. Despite the heat, lots of people. Had to take the shuttle bus up (avoid the back seats: heated like a stove top).
Camped at Nickle Creek (last permit), by the creek, much better than the designated sites. Wilderness camping sites close to Paradise Valley are all along creeks or lakes. Wooded, no mountain view. On Saturday evening, almost all were full.
8.2. Sunday. Tried to hike up to Indian Bar, along Cowlitz Divide. But too hot, no view. Turned back after 2 hours + ~10 mosquito bites. Detoured by Sunrise for a cool beer before heading back. About 73F at Sunrise, 88F down at the park gate!
8.4, Tuesday. The heat has relented. Comet Falls & Van Trump Park Very pleasant trail, starts west of Cristine Falls (15 min west of the Paradise loop), and follows Comet Creek. Many little waterfalls along the way. In 50 min (1.6 miles), reached the bridge to Comet Falls, where another cascade tumbling down to the right. An open space filled with Valerian is 10 minutes further and facing the tall and elegant waterfall. Van Trump Park is ~1 mile (40-50 minutes) further with open vista and slopes of flowers. Well worth the elevation gain. I seemed to be the only person who hiked beyond Comet Falls. Be sure to push further for 15 minutes after the sign of "end of maintained trail". Enough meadow to pitch a tent, but no running water. Some mosquitoes.
Camped at Snow Lake 15 min southeast of the Paradise loop. 2 very nice & big sites, close to shore, about 30 minutes up and down from the trail head. A deer jumped away when I return from washing ~10pm.8.5. Savored the flower scene again at Golden Gate Trail at Paradise. Lunched at Paradise Inn. Terrible food (for all three of us), the waiter was a bit rude (the back server was nice). Detoured to Sunrise before heading home.
Up to date trail and camp condition: http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/trails-and-backcountry-camp-conditions.htm
Here's a list of wilderness camps:
| Camp | # Sites indiv/grp | Elev. (ft) | miles from -- |
| Berkeley Park | 2/1 | 5375 | 3.5 W Sunrise |
| Camp Curtis | 2/- | 8685 | 2 W Glacier Basin C. |
| Camp Muir | 110 people | 10080 | 5 N Paradise |
| Camp Schurman | 48 people | 9440 | 2 W Camp Curtis |
| Carbon River | 4/1 | 3195 | 2.9 E Ipsut Crreek C.G. |
| Cataract Valley | 6/1 | 4620 | 1.6 SW Carbon River C. |
| Deer Creek | 2/- | 2950 | 0.3 W Hwy 123 |
| Devil's Dream | 7/1 | 5060 | 2 W Pyramid Creek C. |
| Dick Creak | 2/- | 4185 | 1.1 SE Carbon River C. |
| Dick's Lake | 1/- | 5675 | 3 N Sunrise Lake |
| Eagle's Roost | 7/1 | 4885 | 1.8 SE Mowich Lake C.G. |
| Fire Creek | 3/1 | 4300 | 4.6 NW Berkeley Park C. |
| Forest Lake | 1/- | 5660 | 2 NW Sunrise |
| Glacier Basin | 5/1 | 5965 | 3 W White River C.G. |
| Golden Lakes | 5/1 | 5130 | 6.8 S South Mowich River C |
| Granite Creek | 2/1 | 5765 | 5.6 W Sunrise |
| Indian Bar | 4/1 | 5120 | 6.4 N Nickel Creek C, or 4.5 S SummerLand |
| James Camp | 3/1 | 4620 | 4.2 W Fire Creek C, or 2.4 E Yellowstone Cliffs C. |
| Klapatche Park | 4/- | 5515 | 2.8 S North Puyallup River C, or 3.7 N South Puyallup River C |
| Lake Eleanor | 3/1 | 5000 | 6.1 NE Berkeley Park C |
| Lake George | 5/1 | 4320 | 7.2 NW Westside Rd |
| Lower Crystal Lake | 2/- | 5450 | 2.4 E Hwy 410 |
| Maple Creek | 4/1 | 2815 | 2.4 W Box Canyon |
| Mystic Camp | 7/1 | 5570 | 5.5 W Granite Creek C, or 3.8 SE Dick Creek C |
| Nickle Creek | 3/1 | 3385 | 1.2 NE Box Canyon |
| N. Puyallup River | 4/1 | 3750 | 5 S Golden Lakes C |
| Olallie Creek | 2/1 | 3940 | 2.8 NW Hwy 706 |
| Paradise River | 3/1 | 3805 | 2 SW Reflection Lakes, or 1.7 E Cougar Rock C.G. |
| Pyramid Creek | 2/- | 3765 | 3 N Longmire |
| Shriner Peak Lookout | 2/- | 5355 | 4.2 E Hwy 123 |
| Snow Lake | 2/- | 4690 | 1.1 S Hwy 706 |
| S. Mowich River | 4/1 | 2605 | 3 S Hwy 165 |
| S. Puyallup River | 4/1 | 4000 | 6.1 NW Devil's Dream C, or 8.5 NE Westside Rd |
| Summerland | 5/1 | 5940 | 4.2 SW Whiteriver Rd |
| Sunrise | 8/2 | 6245 | 0.6 W Sunrise |
| Tamanos Creek | 4/1 | 5270 | 3 S Whiteriver Rd |
| 3 Lakes | 2/1/horse | 4680 | 5.8 E Stevens Canyon Entrance |
| Upper Crystal Lake | 2/- | 5825 | 0.6 SE Lower Crystal Lake C |
| Upper Palisades Lake | 2/- | 5835 | 0.75 N Dick's Lake C |
| Yellowstone Cliffs | 2/- | 5180 | 4.7 E Ipsut Creek C.G. |
