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@mountainmindset@mountains.social
Post #2519062
2026-05-12 02:05 UTC
Any great mountain adventures should start with a waterfall along the trail. The more waterfalls, the better the adventure! The beauty seen, the cool
breeze felt, rewards the soul hiker beginning to end.
My friend and I set out on the Van Trump trail, named after Philemon Beecher Van Trump; best known as the first person with a documented ascent of Mt Rainier along with Hazard Stevens back in 1870. The creek, trail and glacier are all named after P.B. V.T., even the falls below Christine are named after his daughter. Discussing plans for this trip we renamed the route VT trail as just hearing the word trump is a negative reminder of a different heartless man. Though the two people are completely unrelated. As a national park supporter & guide, I have witnessed how much the budget cuts have deeply impacted the park negatively. Still a worthy trail to pursue for the mountains beauty felt through out.
There are 3 named waterfalls in this approach, Christine Falls, Bloucher Falls and Comet Falls. Comet Falls certainly is the biggest and one of the grandest falls Ive seen within the Mt Rainier National Park boundary. There are hundreds of trails I have yet to do but feel this trail is one of the most scenic approaches up the mountain Ive found so far...
#MountainMonday #mountains #waterfalls #hiking #splitboarding #tahoma #MtRainer #mtrainiernationalpark
Replies (2)
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Rising above the falls proved some difficulty with numerous downed trees from the previous winters landslides. A short hike above the falls where the snow line held, we broke out our splitboards in ski mode to climb beyond the sub alpine.
From here on we saw no else, signs of old ski tracks did let us know there is a way to follow. I love it when all you can hear is the mountain, wind blowing, water flowing. Occasional rock dropping, noticing that rock had been holding on for so many years and today was its day to move!
We found a nice lunch spot along the ridge, enjoying complete views to the peak and mountains to the South. Climbing up past the point was pretty easy, only challenge becoming the heat. We topped out about half way up the mountain. Half was enough.
The descent was fun, nothing quite like harvesting your own effort!
#splitboardingistheanswer #splitboarding #turnsallyear
Open ##3026035
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@mountainmindset@mountains.social I really like how you're saying "first documented ascent"
that is a good way to describe that
Open ##3026036