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David's Photo Page > Trip to Washington: Mount Rainier

Trip to Washington: Mount Rainier

July 3, 2003

On the second day of our trip to Washington State, we drove to Mount Rainier for some hiking along the mountain. The weather was good for hiking, but the summer is short in the higher elevations. A large amount of snow was still covering many of the trails. Our hike started from the visitor center at Paradise and climbed the mountain for about a mile.

A waterfall that we encountered while still driving the car up the mountain towards the visitor center.

Now, after starting our hike, we looked down to the parking lot where we began. The peaks of the Cascades are in the background.

Helen poses before we continue our ascent. A few patches of snow are visible at this elevation, but they will become larger as we climb.

Two paths cross.

Helen takes a rest.

Winding upwards into the meadows.

Helen gets increasingly tired as we have to walk through some snow.

The peak of Mt. Rainier looms above.

Traversing more snow fields.

Me and the mountain.

Looking back the way we came.

A good resting spot.

Some fog passes over the peak.

Climbing higher.

At this elevation, most of the trail is snow-covered.

Looking down into the glacial valley, the stream that flows from the glacier is visible, with a bridge crossing it.

After crossing over a ridge, we get a good view of the mountain, and the top portion of the Nisqually Glacier.

Helen taking a rest.

Helen ponders the view.

Flying home the next day, we had a good view of Mount Rainier from the airplane window.

Mount St. Helens in the foreground and Mount Adams in the background.