Well, I can verify that my knees are back in good working order after my surgeries in February and March 🙂 J. and I hiked up to Crystal Peak on the east side of Mt. Rainier, 8 miles round trip, 3100 feet of elevation gain and loss, topping off at about 6600 feet in elevation. The knees did GREAT, the views were spectacular, and we had a most wonderful day.
The lower half of the trail is nothing to write home about, a lot of raggedy forest without very much pretty undergrowth like so many other areas around here . Once you break out of the forest, though, the views just keep getting better and better and better. Miles of huckleberry fields and wildflowers as you switch-back up and up to the top of the peak.
From the top we could see Rainier and a perfect perspective of the White River Valley, along with Goat Island Mountain, the road to Sunrise, and the 3 Burroughs perfectly. We could also see Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood in Oregon, as well as Mt. Baker and Glacier Peak in the North Cascades near the Canada border. Looking to the east we could look down on Upper Crystal Lake and Sourdough Gap.
All in all, not an easy hike, definitely burned some calories off, but so very very worth it for the HUGE expanse of views up top. Word of advice: GO!
