A Rainier trip in July?

Just in case you didn't get this from Backpacker.com....

1) The one part of the Wonderland I have never cared for has been most of the portion of Longmire to Nickel Creek. Mainly because of the heavier day hiker traffic and nearness to the main road. That being said:
Day 1 Longmire to Paradise River 3.5miles (1150 up)
Day 2 Paradise River to Nickel Creek 9.7m (850 up, 2000 dn, 550 up)
Day 3 Nickel Creek ot Summer Land 10.9 m (2580 up, 830 dn, 1400 up, 100 dn) (lunch at Indian Bar)
Day 4 SummerLand to Sunrise 7.8 m (1900dn, 2800 up)
Day 5 Sunrise to Mystic 10.6m (400 dn, 100 up, 2900 dn, 2400 up, 1300dn, 200 up) (we stayed at Dick Creek)
Day 6 Mystic to Mowich 13.4m (400up, 2900 dn, 2400up, 1300 dn, 200 up)
Day 7 Mowich to Golden Lakes 10.2 (1100dn, 2400 up)
Day 8 Golden Lakes to N. Puyallup River 11.5 (200 up, 1600 dn)
Day 9 N. Puyallup to Devil’s Dream 12.6 (2100up 1800 dn 1600up 800 dn)
Day 10 D. Dream to Longmire 5.0 (2200 dn)

Sunrise is a beautiful view point, don’t plan to eat at the cafeteria. One of the memorable days was a very early start to Mystic (from Sunrise campground), just before daybreak, in the mist with coyotes calling to each other. If you are able you can skip the trail up to Sunrise (its a fun down hill though) from Frying Pan Creek.
If you are following a big trailer rig at 35mph it could be a long trip between Longmire and Sunrise>

2) I like the counter clockwise direction from Nickel Creek down the Frying pan on way out. You get a chance to REALLY appreciate the scenery without throwing a rod from a too high heart rate. Summer Land is a magical area. ‘Newbies’ isn’t the criteria. Its how fit you are. You should be able to jog for 20 mins and able to chat with your running partner.

www.exrx.net/Beginning.html

Check out the jog/walk program

Even though the altitude isn’t high it is unrelenting uphill all day long – very much like climbing stairs when it is up. There are many miles of anti-erosion banking of the trail with 8-12″ logs. Between Summer Land and Indian Bar is the highest the Wonderland gets and where you will find a lot of snow on the trail. It could be an adventure! Better first part of September for that part. Better weather too. Check with rangers if they consider it a problem with the snow there, if early season.

3) Counter-clockwise out of Longmire to Nickel is my least favorite section. But if you are looking for a walk and some exercise, that is a good place to start. You can probably get a hitch back to Longmire/Paradise.

Nickle to White River is much better, however.

Counter-clockwise from Mowich Lake is 4 long days to Longmire. But it too is a reason why they call it the Wonderland Trail. Don’t miss Spray Park if late enough in the season for the snow to be mostly gone.

mapper.acme.com/?ll=46.92629,-121.82533&z

Counter-clockwise from Carbon River to Mowich Lake is a spectacular walk through an ancient forest. Little sun - take a tripod if you are taking pictures.
On the east, Sunrise to Mowich (it is a LONG trip from Longmire to Mowich for your driver). Have your ride join you on a day trip to Spray Park. You get a combination of much that Rainier has to offer. It is North side and will be wetter. Check snow levels.

An in and out from Mowich is very good. Go in half of your scheduled time and return.

There are only five road accesses to the Wonderland: Longmire, Nickel Creek, White River/ Sunrise, Carbon River and Mowich. If Puyallup River is open you can work Carbon River to there as a good hike.

I’d be surprised if you get a walk-in for an overnight. You should nail down what you want to do soonest and apply for a permit on phone/email/internet. VERY restricted use of the wilderness there.

Doesn’t matter where you go on the Wonderland, it lives up to its name. Have a great walk.

- See more at: forums.backpacker.com/topic/rainier-backpack-in-july/#sthash.NquVDEKJ.dpuf

They stopped issuing Wonderland Trail reservations 3 months ago: www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/rainier-halts-wonderland-trail-backpacking-reservations-after-record-requests/.

You might be able to get a walk-in, but (not do be a downer) I'm guessing that the chance of getting your preferred route is low.

If your ride is staying that long at Longmire, they should go to Sunrise, Chinook Pass, and of course Paradise. I have not hiked down to white river from Sunrise, haven't heard of a reason to do so. The eastside part is very popular. Some years the top can be icy and the route finding difficult (I doubt that is the case this year), numerous waterfalls are probably dried up, but still from Summerland to Indian Bar should be beautiful. You could day hike around sunrise, then have your ride drop you at white river car camp? Then do this part, camping if you have to at Nickel Creek or the one beyond, and have your ride pick you up there. They could check out the Box Canyon, Old Grove Forest or Silver Falls. Of course you could do it in reverse. I once put my camp at Nickel Creek and drove around to the WHite River road, and hiked back to it, then went down to the Eastside Trail and back to my car the next day, and picked up my camping gear on the way back. I did it one more time, but I decided to hike back the second time on the Wonderland trail again. I think I had to camp at the camp beyond Nickel Creek both times and move it the next morning. That camp used to be right on the creek, nicer then, but still just a camp in the woods.