6.9 miles, 2100' gain, 2600' descent

Meg and Tanner got up early for a dawn hike to Tolmie Peak while the rest of us enjoyed a relaxed morning. Turns out the early risers were the only ones to enjoy views today, because the clouds rolled in and made our trip over Spray Park an experience of moody misty dampness. This is one of the higher parts of the trail where plants give way to barren rocks, cairns mark the way, and even this late in the season there were a couple of small snowfields to cross.

Near bear encounter #2: berry pickers coming the other way told us there was a bear in the meadow a few hundred yards ahead, but we saw it not.

Unfortunately, Tanner One developed a knee injury which slowed him down and made continuing on this strenuous trail inadvisable. After sleeping on it, he and Meg made the wise decision to bail, so they headed out the next day down the gentle gradient to the Carbon River entrance, where they got a ride from a nice lady in a sporty red convertible.

Congrats Meg and Tanner on completing the western section of the Wonderland, from Longmire to Carbon River via Spray Park!

This section of the Wonderland can also be day hiked as Spray Park.