Snow capped volcano
Trip Start
Sep 23, 2010
1
364
366
Trip End
Jul 13, 2012
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Got up from our quite comfy night in the bar car park around 8am, had breakfast and then headed off towards the park, after swapping a couple of tyres around (brand new tyre now on). We slipped off at an info office on the way to check the weather and to find out what trails were open. Armed with some encouraging info we carried on into the park, flashed our park pass (that was now out of date but got us in) and drove to the visitor centre via a small loop trail that seemed to go on a bit further than planned, so we cut it short. We got some more info and our first stamp and then walked another nice loop trail called Trail of the Shadows. Along the trail we saw some mineral springs bubbling away and a lovely meadow view, a doe with a couple of young and a squirrel. From there we carried on to see Narada, Christine, Carter and Madcap falls, all very lovely, then we made the climb to Paradise, Paradise Valley that is. Paradise Valley is the highest point we could get to and have a play in the snow and get our second stamp in the visitor centre there. From there we climbed back down the hill and followed the Tatoosh Range all the way to Stevens Ridge stopping at Reflection Lake to see it frozen over (obviously) and the peak in grey cloud. Just past Stevens Ridge we stopped at Box Canyon to look down 180 feet to where the water was flowing through where it had cut through. On the way out, we stopped at Grove of the Patriarchs, where there were some impressive sized Cedars and Douglas Firs on an island accessed by a small suspension bridge. Out on the main road we were treated to a rare glimpse of the top of Mount Rainier with cloud resting around it until it consumed it once more. We then found a nice spot by the White River to have dinner. After dinner we carried on towards the interstate stopping at McDonalds to use their wifi to check our email and a Walmart to stock up on a few things. We then reached a rest area around 11.30pm to get some sleep.
