Surprise lake camping trip
After having read about Surprise lake near MT. Rainier some time ago I have always wanted to go up there and check it out. It wasn't until this July that I made it up there for the first time and it was amazing! Super great camp spot and a fun 4x4 trail up to the lake. This last weekend I headed back up with some buddies for an overnight trip and we had a blast. The trail was a little more challenging since it was a little wet and my tires have worn down a bit more over the summer, but we made it up just fine. My friend drove his 99% stock '07 FJ Cruiser up behind me and we only had to hook up the tow strap for him once, and it was more to save time and his quarter panel than because he couldn't make it up.
Once we got to the top we found the campsite trashed by the last group of drunk ************ bags who used it. One of them was so drunk he lost his brand new Samsung Galaxy S6 Plus. I found it just sitting there in the dirt. We had to fix the fire pit and pick up a large garbage bag worth of beer cans and the like before we could set up camp. Some people don't deserve to have access to the out doors! My only consolation is that I get to chew his *** out when I give him back his phone tomorrow.
There is a super cool old bridge on the way out there that we took a look around on the way to the trail head.
The trucks from the bridge
Setting up camp
All ready after 5 min! My buddy with a ground tent was so jealous!
Camp from the east side of the lake
Overview of the lake
Mt. Rainier
On the way back down
I busted my drivers side back tail light on a tree on the way up. It is the second time I have hit the very back drivers corner of the bed on a tree, but this time the tree won! Also I really need a rear locker, the only place I had a little bit of trouble would have been a cake walk with the rear locked. On our way back through Bonny Lake I could here a hissing that sounded like a cut in the drivers front tire. When we pulled over sure enough there was a pretty bad split on the inside of the tire that was only leaking when the weight of the truck was on it. I have no idea how it could have been caused by anything on the trail, my only thought is that the tire was old and hardened with age. With all the flexing over rocks it must have split at a weak point. These tires were used military take offs after all and who knows what they went trough before I got them. I plan on getting another set of them, but this time I will spend the extra few bucks and get the 100% new take offs as they should last a bit longer. I have a video uploading so when it is ready I will post it.
