In 1888, this name was given by Maj. E.S. Ingraham, because the delightful location and environment reminded him of a mythological region of paradise on earth. -R. Hitchman
Indeed,
MRNP's Elysian Fields is a beautiful, seemingly calm area in a region torn apart by volcanism and glacial erosion. It is a fragile area, so please travel lightly... Thanks to
WillisWall for his trip report for the area from 2015.
Starting from Mowich, Ben and I went to Spray Park, down to the Carbon River and up to Windy Gap, then did the Elysian Fields-Moraine Park traverse, meeting the Wonderland Trail around 5700', descended to the suspension bridge, went back up to Spray Park and returned to Mowich via the Knapsack Pass route.
~28 miles, 10,800'+ gain
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| Spray Park in the morning |
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| Ben in the beginning section of Spary Park |
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| Glacier Peak and Alpine Lakes Wilderness summits |
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| Descending the east side of Spray Park |
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| Ben checking out some flowers in Spray Park |
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| Looking up at the start of the traverse: Crescent Gap |
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| Windy Gap tarn |
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| Starting the climb up to Crescent Gap |
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| Nearing Crescent Gap, with the west side of Windy Gap behind; Ben's photo |
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| Windy Gap, Independence Ridge, Tyee Peak |
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| Willis Wall and Liberty Ridge |
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| Ben near the frog-filled stream in Elysian Fields |
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| Elysian Fields, Crescent Gap and Crescent Mountain |
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| Ben climbing out of Elysian Fields |
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| Xenolith? |
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| Elysian Fields, Crescent Mountain, Mother Mountain at left |
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| Mini Lupine on the north end of Old Desolate |
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| Sluiskin Mountain (summit on right tower) |
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| North side of Rainier and Moraine Peak, from point 6,996' (Old Sesultory?) on Old Desolate |
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| Huge falls draining the Russel Glacier into the Carbon Glacier/River |
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| On point 6,996' of Old Desolate |
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| Vernal Park, with Skyscraper, Berkeley and Burroughs beyond |
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| Lower Moraine Park and Mother Mountain |
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| Looking back up at the descent from the north side of Old Desolate into Moraine Park |
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| Upper Moraine Park |
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| Descent back to the Wonderland Trail |
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| Carbon Glacier terminus |
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| Pink Paintbrush in Spray Park in the afternoon |
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| Goats on the way to Knapsack Pass, above Mist Park |
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| Traversing toward Knapsack Pass |
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| Another group of goats, east side of Fay Peak |
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| Climbing up to Knapsack Pass; Ben's photo |
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| Looking east from Knapsack Pass |
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| Looking back up at Knapsack Pass from the Mowich side |
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