Opening Pic
Just a quick report for those thinking of making the trip to Illumination Rock.
We set out last Sunday with the intent on hiking to Paradise over Mississippi head & then coming back on the trail to make a loop out of it but the higher we got the more the rock called to us until we could no longer resist
We ambled up the snow fields to the West of the Palmer ski lift to about the 8200' level.
Then headed off diagonally towards the rock.
It's a just a tad over 3 miles from Timberline to Illumination Rock but we weren't moving that fast averaging about 1mph
Slowly but surely the mountain came closer!
A fumarole on the west side of Crater Rock was working overtime!
Getting closer!
It should be noted that there is a danger of rockfall as you approach the saddle, we picked what we considered to be the safest path that brought us up onto the saddle to the west side of the majority of the rockfall. This required a final climb that was a bit steeper than if we had followed a direct route but we considered it a much safer option.
The final few steps
Snow is already melting away from the saddle so if you want to look down on Yocum Ridge and not risk climbing the loose rock then now is the time to go!
Chizuru at 9300'
After a leisurely lunch we decided to make a loop out of the day by heading over to the White River Glacier side then coming back down on the East side of the Palmer.
Above Palmer
We made our way back down to the Silcox hut and then on to Timberline.
All in all it was about 7 miles & 3650' of EG. Another Lovely day on the hill!
