Every year on our wedding anniversary, the wife and I take the day and attempt find some snow to run around in. Some years we have better luck than others, but we always manage to find the white stuff.
This year was no exception, though we did have to go to the base of our resident dormant volcano to succeed.
This is Mt. Rainier, taken through the windshield while driving home from work one lovely morning (lovely because I was done with work for the night).
The peak on the left-hand side of the mountain itself is known as Mt. Tahoma
This is what Mt. Tahoma looks like where we were at yesterday
Oh, and that is Mt. Rainier there in the center of the pic, FYI.
One of the reasons why I still live here and why I will miss it when I finally get employment in Spokane/Cour D’alene is that, as I timed it yesterday, I can go from the Pacific Ocean to Mt. Rainier in two hours and twenty four minutes starting at noon on a Thursday. If I wanted to I could do it in less time and see an actual active volcano, Mt. St. Helens.
Mt. Rainier National Park is one of those places you just can’t visit often enough, especially this time of the year when it is virtually uninhabited. I think we ran into a half dozen other folks, mostly just parked along the road taking pictures. Add to that a couple of CJ/XJ expeditioners scouting for something they have coming up and you can count yourself as nearly undisturbed.
The above pic was taken at approximately 5200ft elevation, meaning that the mountain still has over 9000 feet to go. Strange how perspective gets to pics.
We stopped to use the out houses just after the Hwy-410/Hwy-123 interchange.
From the parking lot
But hey, why not just mosey on over there for a close-up?
Now turn around
We entered the Park on the west side. This is the view just shortly after leaving the East Entrance on Hwy-410, enroute to Yakima through the Wenatchee National Forest.
If I were a better photographer, you would be able to see the Pacific Crest Trail on the hillside above the road you see on the left.
We didn’t get to too much walking around, since she didn’t really dressed for it and our time was a bit tight. But I did have time to hit the dirt a bit once we left the National Park.
Speaking of which, Raging Dave will remember back to 2003 for the First Blogger Blastorama involving the decimation of the Pumpkin Hordes at the end of a spur road outside the ski-village of Greenwater. Well, we tried to go up there only to find that meth-heds have squatted it.
The proper authorities have been informed and I have it on good word that these guy love to go ninja on tweakers. Should have that problem cleared up in a couple weeks. Now if I would have just not been so busy as to forget to set-up a Splatterfest after this Halloween.
Next year, ladies and gentlemen. Next year.
I love that area and Rainier, the beauty of it is unbelieveable I have climbed to Camp Muir at the 10,000 foot level about 6 times and am planning on making it to the top in the next year or two.
Nice photos! Buddy is looking good.
Happy anniversary. Hope you have many more years of playing in the snow.
hmmm….
with tweakers around, maybe the ‘NOTAFED’ plate SHoulda been: IMDFEDS.
play with whats left of their minds….
I believe that little lake is Lake Tipsoo – a gorgeous place in any season. I happened to have worked with some fortunate folks who lived in the little berg of Greenwater, just a short rocks throw from all this beauty. And if any of you have ever bought or been given a handmade hat or gloves from a place called “Wapito Willies”, it is there as well.
Don’t know if Phil remembers, but when he and his brother were small, I took them to Greenwater where there was a U-Fish pond at the time. We took their catch to the restaurant next door where the cook created a fine lunch for the kids. He even required they clear the table when they were done ! You’ll never see that nowadays.
Very worthwhile day trip ……. Happy Anniversary kids.
Wow. That’s the word I was looking for.
Meth-heads: a class of people who should have a bag limit attached to them, not a protected status. And I say that as someone who has dealt with all aspects of meth users and makers.
Some people really do just need killin’.