Mt. Rainier Wildflowers

While we were waiting to get into our house earlier this summer, during the time all five of us were living in a tiny hotel room and needed an excuse to go somewhere for the day, we visited Mt. Rainier.  It's an imposing force that is seen from most everywhere you go here (particularly from our back deck).

One part of Rainier that we didn't get to during our first visit was the famous "Paradise" - it's a place up the mountain that receives the most snowfall of any place in the the lower 48 states.  THE MOST.  Now there's a claim to fame.  It also has a lodge you can stay at and a beautiful display of wildflowers for a couple of weeks a year.

Well, late August is the time for the wildflowers to be in bloom and since it's late August, and since we haven't taken Grammie yet, Thursday we headed out to tackle the mountain.  I kind of fretted about what to do about Mick, I didn't want to leave him in the house all day, so we ended up taking him with us.  Mick LOVES a car ride so spending so much time in the car didn't phase him a bit. (Dogs aren't aloud on trails in national parks, only the parking lots and roads.)

We stopped for a picnic along the drive at a beautiful lake and overlook.  I'm not sure I paid attention to what the name was, and I really don't think the pictures do it justice.  The water is a green/grey color in real life.

After consuming our PB&J's we drove into the park, stopping first at Longmire to stretch our legs and visit the little museum.

Then we piled back in the car for another 1/2 hour drive up to Paradise.  There were lots of incredibly beautiful pull-offs along the route, and some scary bridges to pass and cliff-side stretches to drive, but that was all part of the experience. 

As we drove I kept an eye on the external temperature gauge on my dashboard.  I watched it drop progressively until we reached Paradise and it bottomed out at 50.  It is mid-August, isn't it?

But it didn't really feel that cold (it must be a dry cold), and the surroundings and the scenery distracted us from any bodily chills.  It was gorgeous!  Like something in a calendar (probably because it is in many calendars!)

Emmy and London had great hopes to touch snow, but this is as close as they got!

After watching an information video in the visitor's center (prompting questions from Emmy on whether the volcano was going to erupt and wipe out our house.  I think this girl has lived through too many natural disasters!), we headed up a short trail that showcased all the many varieties of wildflowers.  Lupines, heather, asters, paint-brush, etc.  As my mom pointed out, there were both spring and fall varieties of flowers.  I guess because the growing season is so compacted they all have to bloom at the same time?

It was a beautiful experience and I highly recommend anyone who wants to visit come next August!