Sunday, August 16, 2009

Mt. Rainier National Park

Mt. Rainier is having a fee-free weekend and it seems to be pretty busy.

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Our destination is Paradise Park, the elevation there is about 5400.....

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The Nisqually Glaciers....The current is pretty strong but can just imagine them in the Spring when the snow is melting....

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There are a lot of cycling and hikers....

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This is the Christine Falls Bridge.   These falls are just beautiful....

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Back on the road!  The clouds are pretty low!

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Same Nisqually Glacier...We walk to the bridge....

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and we walk back....

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Even though it is an overcast day, the views are beautiful...

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I walked to another area so Manuel drives to pick me up....nice chauffer service!

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Found this pretty 64 Ford, Galaxy.   I think it is a 64!

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This picture is taken from the top viewing point and I will walk to the point below.   You can barely see the people on the top left.....

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I am getting closer...it is downhill so it is okay now.  Wait til I climb up!!

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The fall from the sight below....you can barely see the people above!

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Gorgeous fall!

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The lava formed as the volcano erupted... so interesting!

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I made it back to the top but I will say, I was out of breath!!  Enjoyed the walk!

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Another view point....

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Heading higher up the mountain and it is getting really foggy...

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We have arrived at the Visitors Center.....About 5400 feet above sea level.

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The wild flowers are just beautiful....

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We decide to check out Paradise Inn and maybe have some coffee. 

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They have a really nice fireplace going....it is so nice and warm.

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I leave Manuel inside to stay warm and I take a hike!

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Looking back at the Inn....

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I am struggling  but I will go as far as I can.....

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The hiking trails are really nice....

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Those people are almost to the top and I start to think if I should really go all the way up!

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Instead, I decide to take a break and take pictures of the beautiful flowers....

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Yes, I walked back to the Inn....it is a pretty steep walk down.  

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Back at Paradise Inn....Manuel stays warm and does some shopping.   I bought me a jacket....

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This is the Visitors Center.  We start our drive back down the mountain....

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We could not catch a glimpse of Mt. Rainier but that is okay.   We may come back....

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We are now driving out of the Park.   What a nice National Park!

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We are headed back to McChord but decide to stop to have dinner.

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We stopped at the Mt. Rainier Railroad Train Company to eat.  We had some homemade soup and a salad.  It was really good.

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Back through the lakes, rivers and mountains....

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We did not see any bears but we did see this Buffalo farm....

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This is the closest I could get to them....

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We took a different route to visit the small town of Eatonville.  

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All these old Historic towns are nice to drive through....

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A nice mural....

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They have quite a few bars and pubs here being that it is a pretty small town.

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This guy stops at the Big Foot on his way to deliver, I guess!!

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Beautiful countryside....

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A farm with a nice pond.

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A horse farm....

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Back on the freeway we see this nice, maybe a 58 Thunderbird?!   Popular color, huh?

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We were tired but I decided to post my pictures anyway.   Don't know what we will do tomorrow.

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