Mount Ranier

Yes, I have, after being here for five months, have finally been to visit Mt. Rainier. It is not an illusion, it is real. Living in Seattle, one sometimes sees a illusionary mountain with a cloud ring around it in the far off distance. This happens on a clear day, if you're lucky. If you're super lucky you drive 2 1/2 hours to Mount Rainier National Forest and see it in a clearing, as bold as ever.

My friend Megan and I drove from Federal Way to Mount Rainier National Park. We did a loop around the park, ending up in the southeastern corner, named Ohanapecosh region. It was the least covered with snow. The Paradise area, one of the most popular areas had over 10 feet of snow on the ground, so we decided not to go there.

The hike we did was the Silver Falls hike, near the Ohanapecosh campground. The campground was awesome, it even smelled like a campground. It was wooded, secluded, quiet with no RVS! I think I might have to go wilderness camping there sometime soon.

The above picture is of some hot spring water that I stuck my hand in. It was like bath water. I wish it were deeper, I would've soaked.

Below are some of the pictures I took while hiking. The trail was about 4 miles round-trip. It was a loop trail that involved seeing waterfalls and old growth forest.

These first two photos are of amazing bridges that i was able to cross. The first made entirely of a tree trunk and the second a suspension bridge. Only one person is allowed to cross at a time.

The photo below is the view from the log bridge. The water was a magical aquamarine blue. I also saw this pretty rainbow, it reminded me of the ones I saw in Hawaii.

After awhile I switched to black and white to capture the contrasts and textures in nature. I have never in my life seen such beautiful tree trunks as the ones I saw on this trail.

We decided to take a turn off about midway through the hike to visit a .3 mile hike to the Grove of the Patriarchs. The patriarchs are of course the 100+ year old trees that live there.

Megan is standing in awe of this beauty.

On our way out we drove through these giant snowbanks. Yes, snowbanks in mid-June! Only in the mountains.

Goodbye Mt Rainier from the car window.