Subject: [Tweeters] Paradise, Mt Rainier NP - WT Ptarmigan & snow level.
Date: Sat Jul 18 19:36:54 PDT 2020
From: Marcus Roening - marcus at rainierconnect.com

Hi Tweets,

A beautiful Saturday hike to Panorama Point at Paradise greeted us with singing circling displays by American Pipits, repeated encounters with Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches and a calling White-tailed Ptarmigan.

All these birds were on the talus slope hillside where the "trail" makes a giant uphill switchback to Panorama Point - a nice mix of forbs, heather, boulders and melting snow.

It is a 2 mile hike one way and 1200' and VERY popular. The snow is still quite deep. The first and last 1/4 mile is patches of snow on the trail and the remaining 1 1/2 miles is all on snow field.

Arriving early - we were there by 7 am and the parking lot was half full. The upper lot often fills by 8 am. The snow was still crusty and icy through, especially the first tree section. And a lot less people.

Arriving later on a sunny day means the snow is much softer and a fair number of folks from everywhere were managing in tennis shoes to the glacier overlook.

The big switchback is a bit steep on the snow, but a set of poles would get most people up the trail. If not, there is a small rock outcropping poking out of the snow that is a good place to look for birds from. We looked for that Ptarmigan from above and below, but never could locate it. However, the bonus up top while looking was having Rosy-finches keep flying by us.

Did I mention how massively popular this hike is? It looks like a trekking expedition as the day progresses. Fortunately, there is plenty of room to spread out on the snowfield.

FYI: SUNRISE is now open. The trail to Fremont Lookout is clear. The trail to 1st & 2nd Burroughs Mountain still has smallish patches of snow on 1st and a much larger field to 2nd.

Good birding!

Marcus Roening
Tacoma WA

Sent from my iPhone

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