Once again, day six of our PNW road trip started off a little lazily with some coffee and some breakfast in our room (however, today it was my turn to go for coffee...not sure I liked that as much) at Paradise Lodge in Mount Rainier National Park. After breakfast was finished, we packed up our gear for the day and headed the only other direction (southwest) we could go (since the road to Sunrise was closed), toward Longmire and the Wonderland Trail. After a bit of a rough start in the parking lot, I headed over to the National Park Ranger Station in Longmire to talk about what trails we wanted to hike. We decided on the Trail of the Shadows, which is an old growth forest (and part of the Wonderland Trail), and Kautz Creek Trail. Below is a photo of the Longmire Ranger Station. It seemed like a ghost town here since they were just starting to gear up for the season.
Another Stellar Jay that we ran across in the parking lot.
I had heard lots about the Wonderland Trail...it goes for 93 miles and encircles Mount Rainier. We weren't planning on all that..just a few miles for us!
Longmire Meadow
Longmire Cabin with me peeking out :)
The colors were beautiful.
More Longmire Meadow
Looking up!
Came around a corner and saw a pretty doe munching on some of the skunk lilies....she had a couple of friends with her too.
There were fields and fields of skunk lilies.
After finishing the Trail of the Shadows and Longmire Meadows hikes, we headed to Kautz Creek. Below is a stone sculture along the Kautz Creek Trail. I am always fascinated with these, ever since going to Big Sur in the 80's and finding a bunch of them in the Big Sur River.
Milkweed!
Kautz Creek was a pretty trail that we hiked until we reached the snow line.
After the Kautz Creek hike, the clouds were starting to part and we could partially see Mount Rainier in the distance.
After Kautz Creek, we decided to head back to Paradise to see if Mount Rainier might be showing herself. We stopped off at a couple of places on the drive back, including Christine Falls.
Christine Falls
We also stopped at a lookout point to view Nisqually Glacier.
Nisqually Glacier
By the time we got back to Paradise Lodge, the clouds had cleared.
After putting all our stuff back in the room, we headed out to "our" snowbank to take some more photos, then we headed over to the Paradise Visitor Center. We watched until even that little wisp of a cloud cleared away.
Paradise Lodge with Mount Rainier behind.
After all the photos had been taken, we settled in the lobby of the lodge with our laptops and wine to go over photos from the day. While we were hanging out in the lobby, it started to snow...lovely! Also while we were sitting there, a large chunk of snow fell off the roof, made a really loud noise, and almost buried a guest who was standing by the door. Luckily, no one was injured.
Sunset at Paradise Lodge. So still and peaceful.
Well, our final night in Mount Rainier has come to a close. It has been a wonderful stay. I can't wait to come back again...maybe one July to see the wildflowers and to make it to Sunrise. Tomorrow morning, we are off to the Olympic Peninsula!
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