Day 3 of CCW: Discover Longmire – A Food Lover’s Paradise with Plenty of Power!

Today, we were headed to Longmire. After two days on the trail, we were craving the comforts of civilization—food, clean bathrooms, and outlets to charge our devices. We originally planned to leave at 5:00 AM to maximize our time there, but the darkness made us push it to 6:00 AM instead.

The hike started with a steep climb, met with a few downed trees. Thankfully, we found ways around them, making it a bit easier than the previous day’s challenges. As we climbed, it became less chaotic with fewer obstacles.

Arriving at Klapatche Camp felt like stepping into paradise. The sun was just waking up, revealing the beauty of our surroundings. This camp was near Saint Andrew’s Lake, known for its great swimming spots. Both lakes offered stunning views of Mt. Rainier, which made everything feel magical.

After the camp, we faced a small climb before descending to the South Puyallup River. We met an ultra runner tackling the entire trail in just two days! It was impressive yet terrifying, considering the steep elevation changes. Some hikers take on this challenge in one day, which is beyond admirable.

Speaking of hiking challenges, my knees were cooperating today, but the unpredictability of pain was tough to manage. The climb from the South Puyallup was moderate at first, and I even encountered a deer that darted away before I could snap a photo. Towards the top, the incline steepened but soon led us to one of the best views of the trail. We were surrounded by colorful wildflowers and playful marmots under a bright blue sky.

We felt incredibly lucky to be there in that moment, away from everything else.

After soaking in the beauty, we descended again to cross Tahoma Creek. I’ll admit—suspension bridges make me nervous, especially when some boards are missing. It was a tense moment every time I crossed one!

Following Tahoma Creek, we faced our last significant climb into a meadow filled with vibrant wildflowers. Unfortunately, as we moved along, so did the mosquitoes. They were relentless, making even short stops a challenge!

When we reached Kautz Creek, we noticed a reroute. Navigating it was straightforward, guided by cairns and markers, and we managed to hop back onto the main trail without much fuss.

We finally arrived at Longmire around 1:30 PM. My knees were definitely protesting, but the sight of the Longmire Wilderness Information Center was a relief. We discussed our itinerary with the rangers and tried to adjust our plans to better balance the next few days. However, they were fully booked, which meant sticking to our original plan.

Our main focus now was food. Lunch at the National Park Inn was a highlight. We scored a table near an outlet to recharge while indulging. I had truffle fries and mac and cheese, while Debbie enjoyed a hearty veggie sandwich and a pitcher of soda. I kept forgetting to take pictures of our meals—it was just too good!

After eating, we explored the general store, which felt more like a gift shop than anything else. It had some essentials, but I was disappointed not to find any bug spray. The folks at the ranger station were exceptionally accommodating, putting up with our frequent requests for information.

Wrapping up our break, we headed to Cougar Rock Campground, just 1.2 miles away. Thankfully, I had reserved a spot, which turned out to be essential as it was fully booked by the time we arrived. The campground had fresh drinking water and great facilities, but the highlight was finding an outlet in the bathroom. We finally charged our devices, preparing for our final days on the trail. A late start sounded perfect—sleeping in until 9:00 AM? Yes, please!

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