Saturday, September 25, 2010

National Park #21 - North Cascades



September 16th

For those of you unfamiliar with this relatively obscure National Park, North Cascades is located in north-central Washington nestled up against the Canadian Border. North Cascades became our 34th Park in October of 1968.

There are no paved roads within the bounds of the Park which is almost entirely designated as wilderness. The road we took on our Tour (Hwy 20) runs thru an area designated as the Ross Lake Recreation Area....so we never actually laid foot in the Park!

Skagit River

The "lifeblood" of this region is the Skagit River which originates in British Columbia, flows into Ross and Diablo Lakes and terminates into the Puget Sound. We were told by a local artist that you could find salmon spawning in the river. We hiked down to the riverfront with Clayton, the resident volunteer Park Ranger, to catch a view of the fish...however, me thinks the artist was delusional!

Skagit River

Diablo Lake

Two dams create astonishing lakes along the Skagit. Ross Dam and Diablo Dam. This shot was taken from the Diablo Lake Overlook.

There are no accommodations within the bounds of North Cascades National Park...lest you pack your tent and set up camp in the wilderness. Ross Lake does have a Resort with cabins and such that is accessible either by foot or by boat.

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which stretches from the Canadian to the Mexican borders, originates just east the Park and does pass thru it in the southern section.

Creepy Red Thing

Clayton recommended that during our visit to North Cascades we take the short hike to Rainy Lake which is situated on the eastern side of the Park. Along the path we spied this creepy looking red growth hiding under the bushes.

It didn't appear to be a mushroom nor a fungus. It didn't seem to be breathing or moving...so we just left the Thing there to do whatever it does!

Creek along Rainy Lake Trail

Not Green!

The primary color of the forest along the Rainy lake Trail is green. Dark green. Light Green. And every green in between. Green here. Green there. Green everywhere!

So it came to be a visually pleasant surprise to find brilliant reds mingling amongst the greenery!

Orange S'hroom Colony

Outside of an occasional squirrel, here was no wildlife to view while hiking the Rainy Lake Trail so we took to looking for things of color. Anything NOT Green. Ah ha! We happen upon a small colony of brightly colored mushrooms residing on the butt end of a fallen log!

A very Fun Guy!

Not to be left out...we found Freddy Fungi hanging out amongst the trees.

Rainy Lake

At the end of the completely flat and entirely paved mile long Rainy Lake Trail...you come to the glacially formed Rainy Lake! The air was still thus creating a perfect mirror reflection of the adjacent mountains upon the water.

Trail to Blue Lake

The Rainy Lake Trail provided no physical challenge so up the Blue Lake Trail we go! This one is 2.2 miles one way with an elevation gain of 1100'! That's more like it! I go for those trails listed in the guidebooks as "strenuous"!

Snagtooth Ridge

The mountains in and around the Park are as rugged and jagged as they come. The peaks reminded me of the Grand Tetons with their sawtooth appearance.

Blue Lake

Another glacially formed body of water, the serene and pristine Blue Lake appeared to have never been touched by man. As with many of our hikes...we found ourselves to be the only humans present. A great spot for a picnic and meditation.

Unlike our Barnes Creek Trail hike in Olympic, our Blue Lake trek had a destination. What we've come to be fond of are "loop trails" or "destination trails". These are much more desirable than just wandering off into the woods...only to turn around and retrace your steps...like we did on the Barnes Creek.

Not-so-Blue Lake

I'm not sure I would call the color of this Lake "blue". To Terry and I, it appeared to be jade, or turquoise or some combination of those two colors.

Prior to our journey to the Pacific Northwest, Terry and I invested in waterproof rain gear fully anticipating soggy hiking conditions. Like most purchases of this nature...if you buy it and bring it along with you...you will never have to use it! Now if you buy it and leave it behind...it will rain every day! (Murf's Law)

On our return back to the car from atop Blue Lake...a gentle rain began to fall. Finally! We gleefully broke out our rain gear....put it on...walked another 200 yards...and the rain stopped. Off with the rain gear!

Ted Bundy - first to traverse Washington Pass

Called the "most beautiful mountain highway in Washington", Hwy 20 officially connected western Washington to eastern Washington on September 2, 1972. Daniel Evans (governor of Washington at the time) and a host of dignitaries were on hand that day for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. They were to be the first to travel the newly completed road.

Driving Evans' limo, and the first official guy to traverse the Pass, was none other than serial killer Ted Bundy!

At 5277', Washington Pass is the highest point along the road which typically is closed from mid-November thru April 20th.

Liberty Bell Mountain stands tall in the background. Perhaps one must view this mountain from another angle to get the true feeling of the "Bell". From our angle, I didn't see the resemblance.

Washington Pass Overlook

Peering down on Hwy 20 as it winds its way into eastern Washington.

Last look at Diablo Lake

This being my favorite view of North Cascades National Park... (and ironically, it isn't even in the Park)...I needed one last look at the emerald waters, puffy white clouds and the forests green!

Well folks, this concludes our Summer Treks. We've covered a lot of territory in the past four months and have knocked out 21 of our intended 40 National Parks. These journeys have definitely been a life changing experience for both Terry and I. In the process of planning, packing and trekking together, the bond that ties the two of us together has become stronger than ever.

Additionally, I have gained a giant sense of appreciation for all of those people who had the foresight and a hand in preserving these Parks for us and our future generations. I've also come to develop an understanding of what the phrase "community of life" is all about. More on that topic another time as it gets deep into the source code of my heart and soul!

Our next scheduled Trek will take us to Saguaro National Park this November. This Park's but a stones throw from our Casa so we'll pack up the Hob and do a bit of camping.

Until then...Happy Trails my friends...and be kind to our community!





Friday, September 24, 2010

National Park #20 - Olympic National Park



September 12th - Olympic National Park

The second stop on our Pacific Northwest Trek takes us to glaciated mountains, wet Rain Forests and log jammed beaches that make up the character of Olympic National Park.

Olympic is a fine collection of nature's diversity. Rising above all and at the heart of the Park is glacier covered Mt. Olympus stretching 7980 feet above the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Olympic became our country's 28th National Park when established in 1938 to protect and preserve it primeval forests, the native Roosevelt Elk, the incredible mountainous country and the rugged coastline.

Lake Crescent

What caught my eye as we approached the Lake was the color of the water and how it changed depending upon the status of the sky. This crystal clear glacier-carved lake offers up incredible views from sunrise to sunset. The afternoon we arrived, the still Lake was cobalt grey. As the clouds parted, it became azure blue. The next morning, it had turned a rich Indian jewelry turquoise.

Each morning a thin wisp of a cloud would wander into view looking like the smoke extruded from a distant giant chimney.

Lake Crescent Lodge

We left the Hob back in Phoenix for this trip in favor of "ruffing" it at Lodges like this one. If ever a Lodge deserved to be on the pages of the book Great Lodges of the National Parks...this is it. Yet, it is not to be found there...so I've decided it must be added it to MY book!

Should you find yourself traveling in northwestern Washington visiting Olympic, by all means stay at the old world Lake Crescent Lodge!

Our Cottage


We were nestled up in the Singer Tavern Cottages...rooms 11 and 12. These units were adjoining and capable of housing 6 to 8 people. We needed not such accommodations; however, when reservations are made late in the game...you get what they have available! Our two units had a lakefront view facing north and a deer grazing meadow view looking out the back window.

Not only do these cottages have a sensational setting, the Lodge's restaurant was by far the best we've experienced during our Trek. Incredible salmon, halibut and salads. Great breakfast choices. Magnificent selection of Washington and Oregonian wines.

All that being said, the best digs on property are the Roosevelt Cottages...#35 thru 38. Private. Quaint. Equipped with a stone fireplace. We shall request Cottage #38 when we return!

Romance Package

Terry must have been feeling a bit "randy" when she made our reservation at the Lodge. She signed us up for the "Romance Package". Not only did we get the largest unit amongst the Singer Cottages, we were also greeted with Champagne and Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

Cheers!

Pinkies Up!

One too many glasses of the bubbly!

Canoes and Kayaks

The three days we spent at Lake Crescent, the wind was minimal, consequently, the surface of the Lake was mirror like. Perfect for paddling a Kayak out upon the clear waters. Because the Lake has very little nitrogen content, the growth of phytoplankton - tiny plants that float in lake waters - is limited. Without these critters, the water maintains remarkable clarity. It is easy to spot a trout swimming 50 feet below the surface.

Hoh Rain Forest

Olympic National Park is noted for three distinctly different zones. The Rain Forest. The coastal shoreline and the glaciated mountains. The day after recovering from our "Romance Package", we visited the Hoh Rain Forest located on the western side of the Park. The Gods of Good Weather followed us to the Hoh.

Prior to our visit, the Rain Gods dumped a couple of inches on the Trails of the Hoh. This isn't uncommon as this area receives about 12 feet of annual precipitation...hence the name Rain Forest! During our exploration, the sun was shining brightly and attempted to penetrate the dense forest canopy. If you're into mosses, ferns and fungi, these are the trails for you!

Hall of Mosses Trail

The Hall of Mosses Trail is an easy .8 mile loop that features big leaf Maples and Kitka Spruces covered with brown and green mosses. The creek that you cross while on the trail had an eye-catching lime green growth invading its waters and spikemoss draped over the limbs of a fallen tree.

(Double click on the image to enlarge it.)

Mossy Coat

Big Leaf Maple draped with club and spike moss.

Nurse Logs

The mosses do not damage the growth of the tall trees. The giants that have fallen are typically victims of high winds, soggy soils and a very shallow root zone.

Many of the fallen trees become "nurse logs" for future growth. The downed trees decay very slowly and become ideal environments for the next generation of forest. Seedlings literally take root on top of the fallen trees.

Kalaloch Creek meets the Pacific

From the Hoh Rain Forest, we headed south and west to the coast. Here the sight of driftwood is common. Fallen trees are driven to the coast by the rapidly moving waters that fill the rivers during the spring snow melt.

The sun poked its rays thru the coastal overcast momentarily, then yielded to the grayness that commonly blankets the shoreline.

Kalalock Beach

Take Highway 101 southbound from the Hoh Rain Forest and you'll pass thru the tiny town of Kalaloch. If you're a Chowderhead, you must stop here and have a bowl of the Clam Chowder at the Kalaloch Lodge. It's as good as it gets.

Walk down to the beach and climb on the logjam that litters the shore. Best time to visit the shoreline is at low tide. During high tide, the logs become virtual battering rams for swimmers who brave the icy cold waters.

Log Litter

The sandy shores are accompanied by thousands of fallen trees as the skies become gloomy. Contrast this scene to the beaches of southern California which play host to piles of seaweed.

Sea Salt Textured Driftwood

Texture in nature captures my attention. The butt end of this hunk of driftwood took me back to the 60's and looked to me to be a psychedelic swirl of chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

Ruby Beach and Coastal Sea Stacks

The coastline of northwestern Washington is famous for its "sea stacks"....hunks of eroded earth that have been separated from the coastal cliffs by thousands of years of erosion. Many a ship has been sunk by these stacks hidden amongst the dense fog indigenous to the area.

Bridge to Marymere Falls

If you are fascinated with wooden bridges as I, the Barnes Creek Trail will not disappoint. The Marymere Falls trail crosses Barnes Creek via the pictured bridge and leads up a steep pathway to the 90 foot falls.

Here we encountered a Nikon Camera Photo Tour Group of Geezers of which blending in would have been easy! These guys were from all over the world. Japan. Canada. Germany. Mexico. USA. Each year, they go online and decide which natural wonder they will shoot next. Last year Yellowstone. This year - Olympic. They all met via an online Camera club comprised of Nikon Geeks. To join their club, they told me that I'd have to relinquish my Canon and start over with their camera of choice!

Marymere Falls

From the Lodge, the Marymere Falls Trail follows Barnes Creek, passes under Hwy 101 and proceeds over a wood bridge and up a steep trail. The hike is about two miles round trip from the Lodge. This is the area's most popular destination hike. However, once we departed the Falls and headed deeper into the forest via the Barnes Creek Trail...we saw not another single soul.

Chicken of the Woods Fungi

We found this delectable fungus sucking its life-sustaining nutrients from a fallen tree along the Barnes Creek Trail on our way to Marymere Falls.

Marymere Falls and Happy Trekkers

I could have asked one of the Nikon Geezers to take our picture at the Falls (and I probably should have) however, the timed delay setting on the Canon is a kick in the pants so I placed the camera on a fence post, hit the shutter button and ran over next to my sweetheart so we could capture this picture.

Local Wildlife

Banana Slugs abound upon the Barnes Creek Trail. This is the wild life along this Trail! No birds. No squirrels. No Roosevelt Elk. Only Slugs! Everywhere you step. And watch your step as these gooey creatures are difficult to remove from your boots!

Bridge along Barnes Creek Trail

Barnes Creek meanders thru a dense Rain Forest thus the trail crosses the Creek and several of its tributaries along the route. These moss and lichen covered bridges have been built from the fallen trees to help hikers cross.

Bridge Fetish

Ok, I'll admit to my weakness for shooting wooden bridges in the wild! This trail takes you up and down the ridges parallelling Barnes Creek. You wander thru an old growth forest carpeted with several varieties of fern. The Sword Ferns were the largest I've ever seen.

The feeling we got was as if we were wandering thru Jurassic Park. It would have seemed natural to see a Stegosaurus munching on the greenery creekside. We envisioned a Brontosaurus reaching high into the trees trimming the mosses from the branches.

From the quiet solitude of our jungle walk we return to civilized life.

Lake Crescent Lodge

First the Romance Package...then the Romance Chairs!

Cialis Moment

If ever there was a "Cialis Moment"...this was it! Rather than a couple of bath tubs, the Lodge has conspicuously placed two wooden chairs facing the romantic waters of the Lake.

Wine and wonderment

And wine not? The mood is set for our final night at Lake Crescent. The shimmering sun slowly sinks into the still waters. The air cool and refreshing. The Cab in our glasses breathing ever so sensuously. The "Chairs" beckoning for our company....

Toasting Togetherness

Ahhh...we toast another terrific Trek!

Sunset at the Lake.

Happy Trails friends. We bid you farewell from Olympic. We have now reached the halfway point of our goal to visit 40 of our country's National Parks by December, 2012. Twenty down...twenty to go!

Tomorrow our Trek takes us to North Cascades National Park...the 17th Park we've visited since June.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

National Park #19 - Mt. Rainier



Our 19th National Park!

Mt. Rainier is the first of three Treks thru the Parks we will take during our visit to the Pacific Northwest. From here, we'll venture to Olympic and North Cascades before we call it a summer. And what a summer its been! We will have visited 17 Parks since June...and have completed 21 of the 40 Parks we're tracking to Trek between now and 2012!

Historically speaking, Mt. Rainier became our country’s 5th National Park in 1899 to preserve the greatest single-peak glacial system in the contiguous United States. Rainier is host to over 20 glaciers. Carbon Glacier, which is located on the north side of the mountain, is Rainier's thickest measuring nearly 700' and reaches downward to the 3500 foot elevation level...the lowest lying glacier in the Continental US.

September 9, 2010. We depart “Hell” (Phoenix) at 6am. Temp outside - 92°. Forecast high for the day 104°. This summer, the heat is really beginning to get to me….especially after having been treated to many much cooler climes while trekking around the country this summer.

We are headed for Seattle where we'll pick up our rental car and head up to the Paradise Inn located in the southwestern section of Mt. Rainier National Park. Elevation at the Inn - 5481. Temperature when we arrive - 41 lovely degrees! A sharp and welcomed contrast to the hellish weather we've had to deal with all summer...or should I say when we've been at home in Phoenix!

Mt. Rainier from 28,000'

Having previously flown into Seattle on many occasions, I had a pretty good idea as to where to sit for the best viewing of Mt. Rainier. Left hand side of the plane. Preferably rows 1 thru 5. Unfortunately, those were taken so we retreat back to row 17. Why 17? Quicker drink service. You see, on Southwest there are three Flight Attendants (FAs) working each flight. They each take a section of the plane in which to perform their service. The FA in front takes isles 1 thru 8. FA #2 takes isles 9-16. And the FA working the back of the plane takes 17-23. So row 17 is the first to be served!

The wing does get a bit in the way; however, sitting in the window seat does afford me a decent view. And we are treated to a glorious view of Rainier as we pass by. Poking it's upper half above the cloud cover, Rainier looks like a huge vanilla frosted cupcake towering above all else. Terry says to me "Take a good look at it now. This may be the only view of the mountain we get to actually see!" How right she was!

Paradise Inn shrouded with Cloud

When we arrived at the Visitors Center in Paradise, the fog/clouds were so thick, you could see no more than perhaps 50 yards. We asked the Ranger where the Paradise Inn was located. He says “its about 400 yards over there”…pointing out into the abyss. We hop in the car and head out 400 yards into the thickness.

Immediately we find ourselves heading down a one-way road away from everything. No Paradise Inn. Only a thick grey mist. Ten minutes later we wind our way up back to the Visitors Center. We ask the Ranger once again “Where the heck is the Paradise Inn?” Same response, “its about 400 yards up the hill." Ah ha! Up the hill! Not that there is any hill visible…yet this try, we turn left up into the thick of it and lo and behold out of the dense fog appears the Inn!

Inn in the Sun!

Although gloomy for the first three days...on the day we departed...the sun peaked thru and exposed the Inn as it was meant to be seen!

The Paradise Inn opened in 1917 and sits at the base of Mt. Rainier amongst an extravagantly beautiful alpine garden. It just so happens to be one of the 16 Great Lodges of the National Parks that also resides on the Bucket List! This Trek is a twofer! Park and Lodge in one stop!

Night One at Paradise
I awoke startled finding Terry pacing at the foot of the bed breathing heavily. “What’s up?” I ask.

“I thought I heard someone in our room! It scared the pee out of me so I got up to take a look around.” she replied.

Not that there was much space in which to look mind you as the rooms at the Paradise Inn are very small. Ours had enough room for a queen-sized bed. No more than a foot between bed and the window on my side and maybe 18” between bed and wall on Terry’s side. I didn’t measure it, but I’ll bet there wasn’t much more than about 18” between the foot of the bed and a small desk that rested up against the bathroom wall.

The bathroom had a sink the size of a soup bowl, a shitter and shower all crammed into a space about the size of a normal shower stall. I’m not sure how anybody else could have been in the room unless they were in bed with us!

Nevertheless, Terry paced back and forth between the bed and the small desk for a minute in her startled sleepy state before she realized that the noise she heard was the guy in the adjoining room snoring like a Grizzly.

By the Lodge Management's own admission, the walls at the Paradise Inn are paper-thin! You can clearly hear other guests talk, snore and fart as clearly as if they were in your room! Yet the Inn is proud to provide its current day guests with the same "creature comforts" afforded the visitors back in the "good old days". No phones. (No problem) No TV. (Terrific!) Dinky Bathrooms. (Now we're starting to stretch things a bit...especially since our Shitter boiled over upon first flush!) Cozy beds. (Very comfy) And walls so thin that you can easily join in on the conversations of those in neighboring rooms!

Colorful Shades

The rooms may be a bit...old style...however, the rest of the Lodge is handsomely constructed. The Great Hall as you enter is a 50’ x 112’ two story tall room built of weathered Alaska Cedar timbers salvaged from a burn area close to the Inn. The carpeted main floor is filled with cedar log furniture with leather cushions and adorned with lighting fixtures covered by hand painted parchment shades with native wildflower designs as shown above.

The second story is a small mezzanine looking down upon the main floor. This space is an ideal getaway to read, play games, sip a glass or two of vino, relax or watch people warming themselves by the two massive stone fireplaces located at each end of the Hall.

Speaking of vino...the wine selection at the Inn is very good. Oregon and Washington produce some excellent reds and whites...however, I may not be the most reliable of sommeliers as I'm not sure I've ever met a Vino I didn't like!

The food, however, was only OK. Terry's trout was grossly overcooked. My Burger was nuked beyond recognition. the Crab Mac 'n Cheese and the Bison Meatloaf were decent. The service was indifferent and unfortunately, when your the only game in town, there isn't much incentive to put forth an outstanding effort.

Yet, we weren't here for the vino or the food...we came for the Mountain...wherever it may be hiding!

Myrtle Falls and Mrs. Bink

September 10th. It’s time to Trek the Mountain! The clouds are a bit thinner today. Visibility is around a hundred yards compared to the pea soup we experienced yesterday. Our destination – Panorama Point…a 2½ mile hike up the hill with an elevation climb of about 1400 feet. I’m not certain there will be any “panoramic view” when we reach our destination…however, just getting out to stretch the legs and breath the moist high mountain air will be a delight! If you should visit Rainier and the Paradise area, this hike is a good one.

Edith Creek and Mr. Bink

There are several trails leading up to Panorama. We choose the eastern route of the Skyline Trail and spurred off on the Golden Gate Trail just north of Myrtle Falls. The first mile is a gradual incline. Then the trail makes a series of steep switchbacks before rejoining the Skyline Trail.

Golden Gate Trail

The misty morning kept the trail wet and slick and the mountain well masked from view!

Paradise Color Extravaganza!

Back in the late 1890's when young Martha Longmire first laid eyes on the meadows that surround the area where the Inn was to eventually be built...she was treated to a springtime explosion of alpine color! She exclaimed, "This must be what Paradise is like!" Hence, the name Paradise stuck has forever more.

Purple, yellow, crimson, orange, white....

Our misty morning hike may have had poor visibility for mountain viewing...however, around every switchback we seemed to be treated to another splash of brilliantly colored wildflowers.

Munching Marmot

And in addition to the colorful flora, we also encountered many a munching Marmot! These furry fellows were everywhere fattening up for the oncoming winter months. Marmots are truly one of the few mammals that actually hibernate. Bears are thought to be hypernaters...however, they really only go into a deep sleep.

More color!

And more!

More amazing blooms!

OK, I got carried away with the flora on this hike...however, it was hypnotic!

Snow and Ice Fields Ahead

We are within .32 miles from Panorama Point when we come across this sign on the trail. "Steep and Icy Trail Conditions. Use extreme caution." We forge ahead and about 10 minutes after reading the warning sign we reach a massive Ice Field. The fog is so thick now that we cannot see across the Ice Field...consequently, we do not know how far it stretches.

Below us in the mist, I hear voices so I slip and slide my way down to see if these folks are standing on Panorama Point. Terry follows ever so cautiously behind me insisting that we turn around and head back down the hill. "We have no business being out here on an Ice Field without the proper gear!" She insists.

I, on the other hand, sense that we are very close to our destination and continue downward toward the talking clouds. I reach a group of 12 people who are taking a Mountaineering class in preparation for climbing Mt Rainier. Unlike me, these folks are fully geared up. I ask one of the Trainers where Panorama Point might be hiding and he points upward into the thick cloud cover. "It's somewhere up over that way, " he says. "It's not far...however, the trail is very steep as you approach it. If you don't have crampons, it could be a tough climb."

That's all Terry needed to hear! No friggin' way are we going to continue up this ice cube and off into the gloom! Oh...but I sense that we are ever SOOOO close to our destination! But she's right. Most people who suffer dire consequences on the mountain are those who get caught up high without the proper gear or the proper training! We have neither! And on this hunk of ice, our footwear is performing more like roller skates than hiking boots.

So...back to base camp we go! Oh so close!

Back up to Panorama!

We make our way back down the same trail we had climbed. At the Visitor's Center, I am able to talk Terry into another try at Panorama Point. She agrees to it and we wolf down a bowl before heading back up the mountain. This time, we'll trek up the western section of the Skyline Trail. The sky has gotten a bit clearer now and the trail much steeper! The first mile of this section has got to be rated 45°... or steeper! It's a genuine lung buster! The rock stairway shown above is the gentle part of the trail!

Mr. Mistopholeeze the Magical Marmot

And along the way, we are treated to more Marmots whistling and posing and munching the greenery. They certainly are not intimidated by us humans as they hang close by the trail and entertain the passers by.

Mrs. Binkele my Beautiful Bride

Why is this woman smiling? Because she talked sense into her overly ambitious Hubby who wanted to venture out onto the fields of Ice and into the unknown! We did make it up to Panorama Point via the western route. The view was...not to be seen! The clouds seem to get thicker the higher we climbed. And there sat the Ice Field just off to our left.

Sure enough, we had to be within 200-300 yards from Panorama Point on our first attempt. But now looking down across the Ice Field, we would have had one helluva time working our way up the steeps! Next time...I bring the Crampons and Ice Pick!

Nisqually Glacier

The clouds momentarily retreat giving us a glimpse of the Nisqually Glacier nestled along the southern reaches of Mt. Rainier.

Narada Falls

September 11th. The clouds still linger over the mountain and Terry's knees and hips are a bit sore from our double hike up to Panorama Point yesterday...so we take a drive down the mountain to explore other sites. Narada Falls is one of Rainier's most popular viewpoints. It drops a total of 188 feet in two tiers. The top tier, shown above, descends 168 feet. The bottom section drops an additional 20 feet.

During the winter months, the upper Falls freezes over and becomes a 150 foot icicle luring ice climbers to scale its sheer and slippery sides. Go fer it boyz!

Happy Trekkers at Narada

With each Park visited, I will say that we grow fonder of each other and of the amazing landscapes our country has preserved for all of us to enjoy!

Christine Falls

One of the most photographed waterfalls in the Park is Christine Falls. The falls are a part of Van Trump Creek and drop in two tiers. The upper tier (not shown) being a 32 foot plunge. The Lower falls drops another 37 feet and can be seen framed by the rock bridge spanning the Creek.

The Falls were named in honor of Christine Van Trump, who in 1889 at age 9 and despite having a crippling nervous disorder, climbed up to the 10,000 foot level on Mt. Rainier with her father.

Momma Bear...

Later that afternoon, my Muir-like legs begged for more action. Terry allowed me another go at the Skyline Trail Loop solo "as long as you promise me NOT to cross the Ice Field". I kept my promise and skirted the Ice by taking the longer and steeper Highland Trail which bi-passes the slick section.

The skies were finally beginning to show signs of sunlight as I zoomed up the western section of the trail. I reached Panorama Point in 45 minutes and caught my breath watching a group of Mountaineering students practice crossing the Ice Field. I still couldn't see across the bloody thing! Will this fog ever clear?

I noticed the Students were geared up with crampons, Ice Picks and all roped together as they ascended the steep portion of the trail that I thought I was going to do a couple of days ago...without gear!

On the descent, I chose to take a different route bypassing the Garden Gate Trail and sticking to the entire Skyline route. Great choice! Along the way, I came across an older couple who were looking off into the distance. They pointed out a rather large bear grazing in the meadow below. This fellow was too far to photograph effectively...even with my telephoto lens...however, it was very cool to see him mosey amongst the forest floor eating berries and grubs and such.

A mile later, I came across the Black Bear shown above. Now she was definitely within photographic range! A group of us who happened upon Momma Bear rapidly clicked off dozens of pictures...when much to our delight....

and her two Cubs!

...her two Cubs playfully appeared! What an amazing sight to witness! I watched Momma and her Cubs graze for about 10 minutes before heading back up the hill to Paradise!

September 12th - the Sun Cometh Out at Last!

The morning we are to leave Rainier, the sun burns off the cloud cover and exposes "The Mountain!" Terry and I get a glimpse of it from the window at the end of the hall about twenty paces from our room. We dash outside and make our way to the nearest clearing and began soaking up its grandeur! What an incredible sight to behold!

This volcanic mountain is distinctively marked with several glaciers flowing in all directions. Nisqually and Paradise Glaciers along with the Muir Snowfields are visible to us.

Mt. Rainier

Mt. Rainier is an active Volcano rising a bit over 14,000 feet above sea level. It once stood over 16,000 feet tall, but like its sister Mt. St. Helens, Rainier blew its lid a couple thousand years ago reducing it to its present size. The incredble thing about the Cascades Range is that the dominent mountains seem to stand alone popping out of the landscape like a gigantic beast.

To the north stands Mt Baker which rises tall near North Cascades National Park. South of Baker is Rainier. Heading further south Mt. St Helens, Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams all rise majestically above the clouds. Even further south along the "Ring of Fire, you'll find Mt Shasta and Mt. Lassen standing large.

One last shot before the Gods of the Mountain...

...close the curtain on this morning's brief showing! Yes, three minutes after taking this shot, the Gods pulled the cloud curtain tightly closed thus ending our viewing session! This mountain creates its own weather and when she's shown herself off enough, she wastes no time in covering up her bosom!

The massive ice pack on the summit creates cloud caps that can quickly conceal the mountain. You can see the warm, moist air climbing up the slopes in the picture above. When it meets the cool air over the ice cap, the water vapor condenses forming lenticular clouds which can quickly blot out any view of the mountain. Yet for those brief few moments, we were able to relish regal Rainier.

Happy Trails friends. We'll meet again at Olympic National Park!