canyonwalker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
canyonwalker) wrote2022-08-18 10:02 pm
canyonwalker) wrote2022-08-18 10:02 pm
Entry tags:
Hiking the Comet Falls Trail
We began Day 3 of our 3-day trip to the Washington Cascade mountains— which was, gosh, almost 2 weeks ago now!— by hiking Comet Falls in Mt. Rainier National Park. The trail promised a 3.8 mile round trip trek with an elevation gain of 900'. That would be a good "main event" hike for the day; we'd combine it with a few other falls that were either drive-to or involved short hikes.
The Comet Falls trail was busy. The parking lot was overflowing when we arrived around 9:45am. That may not sound like we got an early start on the day, but we did. We checked out of our hotel and were driving by 8am. The remainder of the time is how long it took to get there. (Remember, closer lodgings were booked full when we planned this last-minute trip.) Anyway, the lot was overflowing. We parked along the side of the narrow road, our rental car seemingly only 12 inches from sliding down the side of a mountain.
Right away the trail climbed up steep switchbacks from the parking lot. Soon it crossed over the stream canyon and "Up, up, up" became "Falls, falls, falls". Okay, it was still unforgivingly up-up-up, but we minded it less once the sound of cars driving on the road below was drowned out by the sound of water crashing over falls in the canyon.
BTW these are not Comet Falls. Later in the day we'd see some hiking groups who got this far and called it done. And to be fair, these falls are way better than some I've hiked miles to see. But Comet Falls is so impressive it puts these to shame.
But hey, just because Comet Falls is super awesome doesn't mean these falls along the way aren't worth appreciating. I mean, we had to stop regularly to catch our breath on the steep trail anyway. That's a good reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty in which we walk.
Still not Comet Falls, BTW. I dubbed this one (above) "Barely There Falls".
As steep as the climb was, it makes sense that there are waterfalls the whole way up. I mean, up on the way in means down on the way out, and down means water's gonna fall.
Still not Comet Falls, BTW. The big one's still a ways up. But for now... In beauty I walk.
Update: Keep reading in Hiking to Comet Falls, part 2.
The Comet Falls trail was busy. The parking lot was overflowing when we arrived around 9:45am. That may not sound like we got an early start on the day, but we did. We checked out of our hotel and were driving by 8am. The remainder of the time is how long it took to get there. (Remember, closer lodgings were booked full when we planned this last-minute trip.) Anyway, the lot was overflowing. We parked along the side of the narrow road, our rental car seemingly only 12 inches from sliding down the side of a mountain.
Right away the trail climbed up steep switchbacks from the parking lot. Soon it crossed over the stream canyon and "Up, up, up" became "Falls, falls, falls". Okay, it was still unforgivingly up-up-up, but we minded it less once the sound of cars driving on the road below was drowned out by the sound of water crashing over falls in the canyon.
BTW these are not Comet Falls. Later in the day we'd see some hiking groups who got this far and called it done. And to be fair, these falls are way better than some I've hiked miles to see. But Comet Falls is so impressive it puts these to shame.
But hey, just because Comet Falls is super awesome doesn't mean these falls along the way aren't worth appreciating. I mean, we had to stop regularly to catch our breath on the steep trail anyway. That's a good reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty in which we walk.
Still not Comet Falls, BTW. I dubbed this one (above) "Barely There Falls".
As steep as the climb was, it makes sense that there are waterfalls the whole way up. I mean, up on the way in means down on the way out, and down means water's gonna fall.
Still not Comet Falls, BTW. The big one's still a ways up. But for now... In beauty I walk.
Update: Keep reading in Hiking to Comet Falls, part 2.