Friday, June 13, 2014

Mount Rainier - Saturday Snapshots

It's always fun to host out-of-town guests, especially when we're having a stretch of mild, sunshiny weather like we had in late May. We get to act like tourists! So when our visitors from Alabama spent a week with us, we took the opportunity to gas up the car, slather on the sunscreen, and head out. Here's a sampling of the beauty we found at Mount Rainier National Park. I hope my husband and I are able to visit the park again in late summer when all the snow is gone and wildflowers cover the hillsides. That's something I haven't seen yet, and it's supposed to be amazing.
I'll post photos from our other adventures in the coming weeks.
(Click on photos to enlarge.)

The area in the foreground is a gigantic slab of rock, covered in moss and lichen.
Mount Rainier is snowy white year round.

We took a short path through the woods to
get a look at the water roaring through Box Canyon.

Our young guest from Alabama was delighted by all the snow at Paradise.
So strange to be playing in snow in shirt-sleeve weather.
The Official Mount Rainier National Park Service website says: 
Paradise is famous for its glorious views and wildflower meadows. When James Longmire's daughter-in-law, Martha, first saw this site, she exclaimed, "Oh, what a paradise!" The park's main visitor center, the new Paradise Jackson Visitor Center, is located in the upper parking area. Paradise is also the prime winter-use area in the park, receiving on average 641 inches (53.4 feet/16.3 meters) of snow a year.

The people on the right-hand side of the photo should give some
scale to the depth of this overlook above Narada Falls.

The Paradise Inn has been renovated, but
it still retains its historic beauty.
Link HERE for mountain webcams and more information.



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26 comments:

  1. Wonderful photos, Sandy! I especially like the first one. What fun to play tourist with your out-of-state friends. I'm not sure, but I don't think the snow is ever completely gone from Paradise. I think you need to go back later in the summer and check.

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    1. Now that my husband is retired, we can venture out during the week--the best time to go to the Mountain. When we visited in May, the Sunrise area was too snowy for us to venture there. I'll be monitoring the wildflower watch for Paradise for later in the summer and will report back.

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  2. What a gorgeous area! Such stunning pictures- I can see why you love going back. I'd want to go back too to see the wildflower displays- I hope you make it back then so we can all enjoy them.

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  3. Such a lovely area - majestic in fact. We don't have anywhere in Australia that keeps snow all year round - it certainly makes for lovely photos.

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  4. It is fun playing tourist when friends and family are in from out of town. I get to do it when my family flies in from Australia and its always a good time.

    Sean at His and Her Hobbies

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    1. Since we had lovely weather, we found quite a few places to explore. I'll be sharing them on Saturday Snapshots.

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  5. Snow is always surprising to me. We don't see much snow here along the Texas Gulf Coast!

    Here's my Saturday Snapshot.

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    1. Having lived near Houston at one time, I can relate! During our seven years in that area, we saw snow once. Luckily, the area of Washington state we live in now rarely has snow. In fact, I don't think I saw a single snowflake this past winter.

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  6. Beautiful area! You get some real perspective with those folks standing on the overlook for Narda Falls! Beautiful photos Sandy.

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  7. Great photos! It is fun to show people around your home town.

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  8. I remember my visit to Mt Ranier and how majestic and awe-inspiring the views and history are - thanks for sharing your beautiful photos!

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  9. Great photos! I also love the second shot...through the forest, dark and dim. I am a big fan of mountains, woods, and the scent of them! I can almost smell the woods....thanks for sharing.

    Here's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST

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  10. Isn't Mt. Rainier amazing? My favorite time of year is late July when the wildflowers are blooming, but it depends on how much snow it got the year before. Thanks for sharing the lovely spot.

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    1. I never tire of going there (or seeing the mountain on the horizon). I'm monitoring the wildflower watch and definitely plan to visit Mount Rainier when they're in bloom.

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  11. Love your photos! I remember once when I visited you in July and we went to Rainier. There was hardly any snow. I also remember that in I.O.U. Sex we had Peggy and Mark take a hike on the trails at Paradise; at least they got to see all of the gorgeous wildflowers. After all, anything is possible when you write fiction!

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    1. I remember our Mount Rainier excursion well! Maybe next time you come for a visit we can go there again (weather permitting, of course.)

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  12. I like the looks of the INN - very cool!

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    1. It's a gorgeous place in a gorgeous setting. But if you want to stay there, you'd better make your reservations way in advance!

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  13. Beautiful photos. Makes me want to visit.

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  14. It's beautiful!! I am from Washington---the east side. Loved the west side, but didn't get there as much as we would have liked to.

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    1. I posted photos from Walla Walla last Saturday! I'm lovin' every part of Washington State that I've seen so far.

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  15. What a beautiful location. Love these photos! Fun that you got to show some snow to your Alabama guests.

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  16. Isn't Paradise Lodge and the area around it just beautiful ??? My husband took me to the area for our 10th wedding anniversary ... we stayed at Paradise Lodge and hiked the surrounding trails. What wonderful memories your photos bring back!

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  17. We have friends who live in Oregon. If my husband and I ever get there way, sounds as if we should stop in Washington too. So far, from your blog, it looks like a beautiful state.

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