"The 'Ole Beauty:" Mount Rainier National Park aka: "Our" Mountain
At Tipsoo Lake
Tipsoo Lake
Chinook Pass - elev. 5,430 ft. Just above Tipsoo Lake and start of Naches Peak Loop.
Naches Peak Trail - east side.
West side of Naches Loop. (The haze is from moisture in the air.)
Sunrise Visitor's Center
From Sunrise - Emmons Glacier
Trailhead at Sunrise, just off parking lot.
From Sourdough Ridge - Sunrise area
"Frozen Lake"
Where we've been - Frozen Lake Trail from Frozen Lake.
Looking north atop Sourdough Ridge
Heading up Burroughs Mtn. H Heading up Burroughs Mountain - Sept. 2009
"Moonscape" atop Burroughs Mtn. East face of Mt. Rainier in background (Emmons Glacier - single largest glacier in the U.S. oustide of AK.)
Summit - Burroughs Mtn. (7,000 ft.)
Looking north into Canada from Burroughs Mtn.
White River from Sunrise Rim Trail Back to Sunrise
Near Shadow Lake, Sunrise
"Christmas in September" campfire "carol sing"
From Stevens Canyon Road
From Reflection Lakes
Start of Reflection Lakes to Paradise Loop Trail (part of the fabled Wonderland Trail, a 93-mile loop around the Mountain.),
Now you know why they call it "Reflection Lakes"
From Faraway Rock. Good stop for lunch or catch your breath, heading up to Mazama Ridge and Paradise from Reflection Lakes.
From Faraway Rock (portions of Stevens Canyon Rd. can be seen on the left and right-hand sides of the photo. The road is named after Hazard Stevens, who, along with Philomon Trump, made the first documented ascent of Mount Rainier.)
One of several lovely tarns along Mazama Ridge.
Tatoosh Range from Mazama Ridge (south)
Black Bear - Mazama Ridge
From Mazama Ridge
Skyline Ridge Trail (part of Reflection Lakes to Paradise Loop)
At Myrtle Falls, near Paradise. It was warm and BRIGHT!
See? We TOLD you Paradise is world-renowned!! (Multi-lingual sign at Alta Vista Trailhead.)
New (2008) Jackson Visitor Center (JVC) @ Paradise. Old JVC was built in 1965. Kristine was physically present for the openings of BOTH. The new JVC is about half the size of the old strucutre - but twice as cost-effective and significantly more energy-efficient. We still miss the old "flying saucer" monstrosity from the 60s.
Inside JVC. Notice the 17 degree difference in temperatures between "Today" and "Tomorrow." We hit Mazama Ridge when it was unusually warm - 84 degrees out on the trail (we bring a mini-thermometer along with the First Aid Kit and the 10 Essentials when we hike). But you could see FOREVER!
Time to hoof it back to Reflection lakes - and the car!
Part of Mazama Ridge as seen from Paradise.
Back to Reflection Lakes.
Waterfall along the Hike Lakes Loop Trail (back to Reflection Lakes from Paradise)
Made it! High lakes loop complete! (Note how the personality of the Mountain has changed in this late afternoon photo - taken about 5:30 pm. - vs. the photos taken in the late morning/early aft.)
Back @ Ohana - Josiah getting ready from s'mores!
Morning reading the next day.
Last day - sigh. Heading up Stevens Canyon Road to Longmire, Trail of the Shadows and the Nisqually gate. (See how the Mountain has changed again in this morning picture.)
From Reflection Lakes on a clear, SUNNY morning!
Guess?? See how exquisite the Mountain's REFLECTION is in the morning?
This is the famous Inn at Longmire. We celebrated our silver anniversary here in 2008. It was early May and there was ten feet of snow on the ground! :)
The 'Oel Beauty from Longmire. Isn't she magnificent?! Park HQ - Longmire (another REALLY bright day!)
Josiah @ Longmire cabin - Trail of the Shadows. September '09.
Until next time! |
Olympic Peninsula Port Angeles, Lake Quinault, Nisqually Basin, Puget Sound ~~~ November @ Nisqually Wildlife Refuge
Sam & Josiah on the trail @ Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, November 2008 Picnic spot - Nisqually Wildlife Refuge. Nov. 2008
Nisqually - November '08
Birding @ Nisqually Wildlife Refuge - May '09
Nisqually Wildlife Refuge - squint & you can make out the Olympic Mtns. in the background. May '09.
Beach at La Push (on the western side of the Oly. Peninsula) - Spring '09
Lake Crescent - Spring '09
Dockside - Port Angeles, Oly. Peninsula - Spring '09
Port Angeles - northern rim of Oly. Peninsula
Port Angeles ~~~ "September on the Sound" (Mud Bay & Tolmie State Park)
Now you know why they call it "Mud Bay." (Near Olympia)
Stop along William Cannon Nature Walk, Mud Bay. September 2009
Josiah - Mud Bay. September 2009.
Four Cedars Trail - Tolmie State Park (near Olympia)
Tolmie State Park
Beach @ Tolmie State Park - Sept. '09 (Raining off and on that day, but what else is new on the Oly. Peninsula? :)
Puget Sound from Tolmie State Park.
Josiah & Sam skipping stones across Puget Sound |
Mount Saint Helens |
