Rampart Ridge

December 17, 2016




Icicles at Longmire

Winter is upon us in the Pacific Northwest. With winter comes snow in the mountains (where we prefer it stays) and I trade in my hiking boots for snowshoes. I have typically stuck to the easier snowshoe routes in years past due to the technical level of my snowshoes. Last spring, however, I was fortunate enough to win a pair of my dream backcountry snowshoes. This means that I am now able to branch out a little and expand my skill level on  more difficult routes. Located in the Longmire area of Mount Rainier, Rampart Ridge was the perfect route for this. Also ready to stretch their wings, I was joined by Evie, Andrea and her friend Jason.   

But first ... Fishers. 

Fishers are a housecat sized member of the weasel family, the larger cousin to the martin and mink. By the early 1900's, their numbers had been totally eliminated in Washington State by over-trapping and loss of habitat. In 1998 they were placed on the endangered species list. There is currently a multi-year project under way to reintroduce fishers to the Cascades. They are being captured in British Columbia, given a vet check, logged and implanted with a transponder (about the size of a roll of Rolo candy) then released into the wild. Each animal will claim a territory of about 35 square kilometers and it is hoped that they will return to the general area of their release to mate. Serendipitously, they were releasing six fishers at Longmire the morning we came to snowshoe. Although it would set us behind schedule, we chose to participate in the release. What an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience. We joined the small parade, helping to carry the wooden crates to the release point. Obscured from view behind trees, we watched as the biologists helped the kids in attendance open the crates and release the animals into the wild, one by one. Each fisher tested the air, then darted out of the crate and off into the woods, their release met with quiet cheers and applause.

The release of the fishers done, we returned to the truck, donned our gear and headed off into the woods ourselves, albeit in a different direction.

I love wandering the woods in wintertime. The snow blankets the ground, hushing the world so the forest can sleep. The depth of the dark colors are magnified by the stark white colorlessness of the snow. The tracks of deer, snowshoe hares and other forest denizens remind us that we aren't alone. I am filled with childlike wonder and warmed by memories of winters past. Occasionally I can feel my mother walking alongside me, and can almost feel my hand in hers. Rampart Ridge, although a longer and more difficult route than I had taken to date, brought all this to the plate ... and more.


The trail started across the street from the lodge at Longmire, carrying us on rolling terrain through snow-covered meadows, past an old cabin and mineral springs. We were officially on the 'Trail of Shadows' at this point - with the low lying clouds diffusing any direct light, it was very appropriately named. We reached the junction with our trail and left the easy portion of our trip behind. It was here that the trail began a steady and somewhat steep 1,200 foot climb to the top of the ridge. I haven't done much elevation on my recent hikes and I was feeling the effects as my lungs and legs strained to carry me up the trail. I stopped frequently to catch my breath. The trail was easy to follow through the snow, which allowed me to enjoy more of the scenery surrounding me.


We came to a viewpoint that overlooked the Longmire area below us. It was here we realized just how far we had climbed in the last 1.5 miles - the lodge looked like a tiny Christmas diorama.

Longmire area from atop Rampart Ridge

We traversed the ridge a few hundred yards until we intersected the Wonderland Trail. The Wonderland is a 93 mile long trail that wraps all the way around Mount Rainier. For our needs this day it would lead us back to the lodge, creating a loop route. The sun began setting as we made our way down the trail, casting the forest into darkness. The light of our headlamps and what moonlight that filtered through the trees reflected off the snow, illuming our way for us. We could hear a small stream to our left, quietly flowing through snow-covered banks. Aside from that and the sounds of our snowshoes crunching through the surface, the quiet was absolute. The trail was, in places, very steep, giving us the opportunity to test the traction of our snowshoes. The lodge was warmly aglow from yellow lights, our truck the lone vehicle in the lot. We all felt good about the day's adventure and our accomplishments. It was a grand day spent on a grand mountain. 

Hike 58 - final hike of the year.
Distance: 4.5 milesElevation gain: 1200'
Max elevation achieved: 4050'