Ever since we visited Mount Rainier in early summer with our guests from Alabama, I've wanted to return. So my husband and I decided to make the drive this past Thursday. A trip from our home to the park's Nisqually entrance, then taking the loop around the mountain, takes pretty much all day, especially when we stop and sightsee. We'll go back soon and get an earlier start because we didn't have time to see everything we'd intended. Here are a few photos from our recent adventure.
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| View of the mountain from the back porch of the National Park Inn at Longmire. |
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| Gigantic trees along the aptly named Trail of the Shadows. It's about a 20 minute hike around a marsh. |
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| Even though other hikers shared the trail, it was quiet except for birds chirping in the trees. |
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| I love reflections and was delighted to find this little slice of Mount Rainier mirrored in a pond. This short path runs along the shores of Reflections Lakes, just off Stevens Canyon Road. |
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| One final photo before we headed home. |
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You live so close to such beauty.
ReplyDeleteThose incredibly old, huge trees were almost beyond belief.
I thought it might be cold being so close to a snow covered mountain, but I noticed your fellow hikers were in short sleeves.
Temps were in the mid-70s (F) - just about perfect. The mountain is covered by glaciers so its slopes are white year round. The park website says:
Delete"At 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier is the most prominent peak in the Cascade Range. It dominates the landscape of a large part of western Washington State. The mountain stands nearly three miles higher than the lowlands to the west and one and one-half miles higher than the adjacent mountains. It is an active volcano that last erupted approximately 150 years ago. The park contains 25 named glaciers across 9 major watersheds, with 382 lakes and 470 rivers and streams and over 3,000 acres of other wetland types."
Such a beautiful place and gorgeous photo's to match. Mt Rainier is sight to behold, will have to visit there some day. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm glad you enjoyed my photos. We had a great time.
DeleteSo lovely! You know, I have NEVER been up to Mt. Ranier? Shameful, I know! I have a feeling we'll get up there sometime soon--we ended up buying a NP pass on our trip and we want to squeeze as much out of it as we can!
ReplyDeleteI think your whole family would enjoy the visit. There are quite a few shorter hiking trails -- the Trail of the Shadows was only about half a mile long and easily accessible. We have a lifetime "senior" pass, so we can go as often as we want. One of the perks of getting older.
DeleteWhat great photos. Walking amongst those huge trees must be amazing- I'd love to check out the birds too.
ReplyDeleteI didn't see many birds, but I did hear them. They must have been in the treetops!
DeleteI've always wanted to visit Washington state. On my bucket list for sure. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWith mountains and ocean, there's plenty of beauty here. I'm sure you'll find a lot to enjoy.
DeleteI love redwoods...and here in the Central Valley of California, we are suffering from tree deprivation. But fortunately, we are only hours away from massive redwoods in Northern California...and a few smaller ones an hour or so away.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! Here's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST
My husband and I have visited the magnificent redwoods in Northern California -- much bigger than the ones in my photos. That's a lovely place.
DeleteWas the trail's starting point at Longmire? I want to do this hike this week.
ReplyDeleteYes, the trail starts across the road from the back porch of the inn at Longmire. In fact, you can almost see it in my first picture above (at the left of the photo there's a split-rail fence). The hike took about 20 minutes even with me stopping to take pictures and was not difficult at all. The Mt. Rainier website lists other hikes along with their length and degree of difficulty. http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/day-hiking-at-mount-rainier.htm I hope you enjoy the hike as much as I did!
DeleteWow! What an amazing place!
ReplyDeleteYes, it really is. Even though I've been to Mount Rainier many times, I'm still awed.
DeleteLove the photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I loved being there.
DeleteThat's gorgeous. I could spend a week there just taking photos!
ReplyDeleteMe, too! I think my hubby and I should plan on renting a cabin nearby and spending a week there.
DeleteIncredible photos! I would love to hike that trail and see those giant old trees. What awesome beauty.
ReplyDeleteIt is an awesome place.
DeleteI'll never forget my visit to Mount Rainier National Park a few years ago. Thanks so much for posting these beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteBreathtaking scenery!
ReplyDeleteFor all the trees that we have in Newfoundland, I have never seen ones as huge as in your photos. WOW!
I particularly liked the photo with the reflection. In my watercolor classes, I'm just starting to learn how to paint reflections.
Congratulations on learning to watercolor. That looks difficult to me! I'm glad you enjoyed my photos.
DeleteA friend lives near Mount Rainier and hikes it regularly. I am in awe of the photos...yours too! The scenery is just beautiful.
ReplyDelete~Amanda from His and Her Hobbies
You should come stay with your friend and visit the mountain. You'd have a great time.
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
Very nice pictures, love the first one especially but those trees are huge! What a beautiful mountain.
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