I am relatively sure that everyone that lives in Washington State has seen Mount Ranier. It is pretty hard not to see the usually snowcapped dome soaring high over most all of the State’s landscape. It is a most wonderous sight to see.
Mount Ranier is the mountain in the background, and YES, that is my Subaru still looking great!!This is one of my best photos of the mountain . . . or it would have been except that on the day I visited the Park there were patches of thick clouds blowing across the slopes. I sat and waited on these rocks for about two hours . . . . . . and all I got was this even better photo of the mountain! LOL I finally gave up and wandered away, in hopes that the clouds would burn off at some point in time!I opted to go for a hike instead of waiting and watching clouds. As you can see, the forest around Mount Ranier is quite different from the forest in Olympic National Park, a mere 2 1/2 hours away. The forest is not nearly as dense, with much more sunlight penetrating to the floor.Like the other Parks in Washington, stream abound, fed by snows running off the high peaks.The trees here grow tall and strong. Once again, everything is just so darned green!!The sun allows all sorts of small plants to thrive below the tall trees.I love finding flowing water and the way it makes the forest look so peaceful.I found this new tree growing from the fallen trunk of an ancient tree. All it needed was this shaft of light to bring it forth.Carter Falls. This is an enjoyable hike, rather strenuous, mostly up a steep grade, but well worth the end to see this stunning cascade. You will definately hear the falls before you see them as you hike up alongside the stream.This is another shot of the cascades at Carter Falls.After a three-hour hike, I returned to the riverbed below Mount Ranier, I was pleased to see that the skies were clearing, and the mountain was no longer in hiding.The mountain is stunning!! Oh . . . and that water is very cold, but great for soaking sore feet in after a long hike!! LOLLong-Tailed Titmouse. These beautiful birds seem to hang out at all the places tourists stop at, at every overlook or pull-off, waiting for tasty tidbits.Narada Falls is the best known waterfall in the Park and one of the prettiest waterfalls that I have seen in a very long time!Christine Falls is another wonderful waterfall to visit of the twenty-four waterfalls that can be found inside Mount Ranier National Park.
Mount Ranier National Park is another of the absolutely wonderful, long-standing parks in our countries National Park system. It is a beautiful drive up to the Snow Camp and Visitor’s Center. And if you are brave enough, and properly prepared, you can set out from the Visitor’s Center for the climb to the top of Mount Ranier. But be advised, this mountain has killed a lot of would-be climbers that found themselves trapped by sudden and fierce weather changes on its slopes. On the day that I visited, the Park Service had rescued five people off the slopes, nowhere near the summit.
The park is a hiker’s paradise. It offers trails for every level of skill from simple and handicap accessible to strenuous, to even those for semi-professional and professional climbers. Please do your research before you head into and out into the park to keep yourself safe.
What the Walrus said . . . 