“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” – John Muir
(Featured photo is mine – the full moon rising over the Tatoosh Range as seen from Paradise Inn on Mt. Rainier)
We went to Mt. Rainier last weekend to stay at Paradise Inn – one of the fantastic National Park lodges. It was built from a stand of Alaska yellow cedar on the mountain that had been killed by a fire. The lodge opened in 1917. The original building was constructed without a single nail being used. But nails and braces were added later because of the strain of heavy winter snows the lodge endures.
Some wildlife we saw on the mountain. The chipmunks were everywhere but I’ve never seen a mountain goat up there. Mr. D said as we were climbing (see next set of pictures), “There’s something moving over there.” And sure enough, it was a goat.
Climbing on the mountain up to about 7,000 feet. Mr. D absolutely loved it. I turned us around only because I was concerned he’d be tired on the way down. But he never uttered a complaint.
Mt. Adams (12,281 ft) is visible behind Mr. D in the first photo. Mt. Rainier (14,410 feet) is behind us in the 2nd and 3rd photo. And Mt. St. Helens (8,300 feet) can be seen in the fourth.
Now you see it, now you don’t. A picture of the Mt. Rainier from the same vantage point in different weather conditions. I’ve been climbing on the mountain when clouds roll in. It’s always stunned me how fast it happens that the conditions change. Also how completely disorienting it is when you can no longer get your bearings.
In a post I wrote a couple of years ago, When the Clouds Roll In, I told the story of the time that I was doing a training hike on Mt. Rainier and my friend and I had to gingerly feel our way down the mountain. The same day a 27-year-old doctor who had just moved to Seattle to start his residency died on the mountain when he attempted to snow board down in those conditions.
But it’s more or less safe to do hand stands on the mountain. Not that I would try that, but Miss O did. And we also hiked down to Narada Falls which was booming with all the snow melt this time of year.
In other news, Miss O can also do hand stands on docks while her brother fishes and we chased down the first ice cream truck of the season.
Cooper missed us while we were gone.
Miss O went to a week of horse camp and fell in love with a horse named Squish.
And two more pictures from Paradise Inn on Mt. Rainier. Including the sign of the week.
Surprised By Joy 