9/29/2009

September 25, 2009 – Mount Rainier

We woke to a beautiful day, packed a lunch, and took off to Mount Rainier National Park:

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (3)

Our first view of the mountain – check out the blue skies – we were so blessed with the weather:

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (6)

We stopped at Box Canyon and took in the sites and displays.  We also ran into our neighbors, Bonnie and Ron, and we all took the nature trail walk.

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (18)a 

This picture was taken from the bridge – the water was 180’ below us:

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (40)

A view of the mountain from the trail:

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (47)

The road offered us incredible views at every turn – you can see the road on the right and left sides of this picture:

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (68) A car on the road:

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (74)

The larger view of the road – it is so hard to describe the vastness and the pictures do not do it justice:

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (75) 

We are getting closer – notice the different colors of the rocks.  And, yes, those are glaciers:

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (77)

Another view from the road.  The fuzzy white/pink stalks in front are….fireweed!:

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (82) And the view from Reflection Lake:

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (94)

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (96)

We made it to Paradise!.  And we met up with Bonnie and Ron, toured the visitor center, exhibits, and watched the movie.  We did not do any of the hikes – Andy is still not up to par.

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (116)

From there we stopped at the Narada Falls overlook, had lunch, then took a walk around.  The falls were beautiful:

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (124)

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (125)a

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (130)

The Nisqually Glacier once flowed down this area.  It looked like some of the areas that we saw in Alaska:

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (148) And our last stop before leaving the park:

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (150)a

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (154)

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (157)

The trees are HUGH!!!

On our way back, we saw this sign (but no elk, bicycles or pedestrians – LOL):

09-25-09 Mount Rainier A (161)

What a wonderful day!

We finished with a campfire and our neighbors joined us.  Life doesn’t get any better than this!

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