Mt. Rainier can be seen from all around the Seattle area (when it's clear) and stands over 14,000 feet high. The day before we left Gig Harbor (see post below), we took a day trip to visit it. It was a beautiful, two-and a half hour drive from where we were staying.
I love the way the trees made a V as we drove closer to the mountain through the Mt. Rainier National Park.
This forest was as pretty as any I have ever seen in Colorado and Canada.
The park newspaper asks that people not walk in the natural areas of the forest, but stay on the trails only. There is much vegetation and a short growing season here.
Some of the trees here were huge---this picture as we were moving, doesn't do them justice, but the literature we got says they rival some of the giant sequoias in California.
This picture gives you a good idea of just how large these trees are.
A great picture that illustrates "from death to re-birth." Forests are amazing!
There is even life on rocks up here!
Beautiful little trillium growing on the forest floor. It obviously doesn't need much sun!
We were no where near the top of the mountain, but this was as far as we could go by car. This was at the Visitors Center at Paradise. They had had over two-hundred inches of snow last winter, and in June, it was still this deep on the side of the road!
You can see the people hiking into the trails from the visitor center. Most of them had on snow-shoes, but we saw one lady in a long dress wearing flip-flops! The temperature was in the high 40's.
A few years ago, Larry really wanted to try to climb this mountain, and Sally sent him a lot of information about it. Now, it's easy to see that this is not a mountain for amateurs. Even in the summer months, hikers have to wear special clothing and have all the right equipment and extensive training. Maybe snowball fighting is the better sport for Larry now!
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