Autumn Wonderland at Mt. Rainier

In trying to catch up from a very busy photographic autumn, I thought I'd share another of my more memorable experiences.  This post features a late September visit I made to Mt. Rainier National Park.

Mt. Rainier rises above the Wonderland Trail

This park is beautiful in August, when wildflowers carpet the mountain's upper slopes.  I try to get to the mountain annually for the flower show, but this year it didn't happen.  However autumn is also spectacular.  Due to the high elevation, this seasonal change happens early, so come September you don't want to dawdle for fear of missing the entire thing.  Knowing that time was running out, I hightailed it up there for two days last September.

Marmot at attention

Not only wildflowers and fall colors, Mt. Rainier NP is also the place to see wildlife.  Marmots are plentiful on the high tundra surrounding the mountain.  As a matter of fact, on this day I started my hike from the Sunrise Visitor Center and took the Wonderland Trail all the way to Skyscraper Point.  As I began to climb the final mile to my turnaround goal, a baby marmot popped out of a hole right next to the trail!

The little guy popped out of a hole right next to the trail!

Upon seeing me standing right beside him, the little guy quickly disappeared down his hole.  But I backed off and waited, and sure enough the marmot reappeared.  As long as I kept my distance, I was able to watch this marmot and his parent ramble around the grassy area above the trail.

I spied a large mountain goat herd

One of my hopes for this trip was to see some mountain goats.  They are plentiful here at Mt. Rainier NP, but on past visits I've always missed seeing the resident herd.  But on this day, while climbing up to Skyscraper pass, a hiker heading in the opposite direction pointed out a group of these fluffy white creatures on top of a nearby ridge.

Goats on the move

Although the goats were a fair distance away, I'd carried a zoom lens just for this purpose.  The extra magnification enabled me to get some decent photos.  And it was fun to watch the herd's antics through the lens.

Grazing in the shadow of the mountain

On my trip back down from the pass, I noticed the mountain goats still atop the ridge.  Pausing to watch them for a second time, I was delighted when the herd rose and began walking downhill towards the trail.  Although the goats eventually turned and wandered farther away from where I stood, I was able to get more photos from a closer distance.  I watched the goats for quite a long time and then, deciding it was time to move on, continued my hike.

During my descent, I kept looking back at the herd.  When I was a good half mile away, all the goats began to move again.  This time they traveled back towards where I'd been standing and walked right across the trail!  Darn!  I kicked myself for not staying longer.  However, wild animals are not predictable.  I consoled myself with the thought that I couldn't have anticipated their movements.

Golden-mantled ground squirrel posing for me

Back down the Wonderland Trail I hiked.  In addition to marmots, the alpine tundra here was home to dozens of golden-mantled ground squirrels.  I kept seeing these chipmunk-like animals darting between the boulders.  One little guy posed atop a large rock and didn't move, even when I got fairly close.

Adorable pika!

Back at my car, it was still midafternoon, so I decided to hike another trail.  A short distance down the road from the Sunrise visitor center was Sunrise Point.  Located at a hairpin bend in the road, it's a popular place for tourists to take in great views of Mt. Rainier.  It's also a trailhead for the Palisades Lake Trail.  Having never before hiked this trail, I thought today was a good time to check things out.

Pike giving its special call

From the parking area, this trail plummeted steeply downhill for the first mile.  But passing by a talus slope I head the faint "meep" of a pika call.  Zoom lens came back on my camera and I positioned myself at the foot of the slope, hoping to get a glimpse of this shy little creature.

Luckily, my wait was short.  A pika poked its head out, and then to my delight, climbed atop a rock and sat.  Slowly I walked towards the little creature, snapping images as I went.  The pika let me get rather close before diving back into the boulder field.  But he remerged several feet up hill, long enough to give out his distinctive "meep" warning noise before disappearing once again.  

I was so happy to see one of these adorable little rock-rabbits and get a bunch of great photos too.  Along with the mountain goat sighting, one of my trip highlights!

Rainier at sunrise

The following morning I rose early to capture sunrise from the Sunrise Visitor Center (sunrise at Sunrise, ha-ha!)  I walked a short distance up the main path and stood with my camera at the ready.  A young couple hiked up and stopped nearby.  Busy photographing the morning light on Mt. Rainier, I didn't pay attention to what the couple was doing.  It wasn't until a passing hiker exclaimed "congratulations" did I discover the man had just proposed to his girlfriend.  Apparently he'd traveled all the way from Texas to pop the question here at Mt. Rainier NP.

Mountain reflections in Upper Tipsoo Lake

With the sun now rising in the sky, I left the happy couple and returned to my car.  I had one more stop for the day - nearby Tipsoo Lake and the Naches Peak Loop.

Mt. Rainier view from the Naches Peak Trail

It had been several years since I'd hiked this amazing short trail that loops through some of the best scenery in the park.  The last time here was during peak wildflower bloom and it was nothing short of incredible.  But I'd yet to see the trail decked out in fall colors.  Today was the day!

Outstanding fall colors!

I decided to start my hike from Tipsoo Lake and go counterclockwise.  I remembered there were some great Rainier views from this first portion of the trail.  

More blazing red huckleberry leaves

Oh my were the fall leaves spectacular!  The trail was lined with huckleberry bushes that had turned the most dazzling shades of red, orange and yellow.  

Grand view near a small tarn

And the views of Mt. Rainier were amazing too.  It was a good thing I started the trail where I did, as I got some clear views of the mountain.  About halfway through my hike I noticed the mountain starting to be obscured by clouds and by the time I finished, it was totally covered.

Looking towards Dewey Lake

About halfway into my loop I intersected with the Pacific Crest Trail.  I ran into a couple of people who were through hiking the entire trail.  Always fun to chat with these determined hikers.

Another small tarn with a jaw-dropping view

Although for the first couple of miles I had the trail nearly to myself, by the time I started down the PCT, the masses were out.  This loop is wildly popular and always brings out the crowds.  Of course, I totally see why.

Golden meadows

The last mile was probably my favorite.  The forest cleared and the trail routed through several golden meadows.  The clearings were dotted with colorful huckleberry bushes.  The gold and red hues made for some amazing photo subjects.

A huge patch of red-leaved goodness

I thought the Naches Peak Loop was amazing during the summer wildflower bloom, but now I think it's even better with peak autumn colors.  Definitely a must-do next year!

A very popular trail for good reason!

Glad I made the trip up north to get my yearly Mt. Rainer fix.  Critters and fall colors....what more could I ask for?  

The Beauty of Mt. Rainier NP

I've been off on another trip, so blogging has taken a back seat for a couple weeks.  September and October have proven to be busy months thus far, with lots of things going on in my life.  Before running off again, I decided to quick throw together this photo-dump post lest my readers think I've totally abandoned my blog.

Mt. Rainier not long after sunrise

Last year I totally missed out on the high Cascades wildflower season.  Determined not to skip two years in a row, in late August I planned a last-minute trip to one of my favorite summer destinations, Mt. Rainier National Park.  Since the peak bloom here usually happens in early August, I hoped I wasn't too late.

A little pika storing food for winter

This National Park is wildly popular in late summer.  I'd heard that the parking lots at the Paradise Lodge area fill up by mid-morning.  For that reason I awoke way before the birds and drove the 3 1/2 hours to make sure I arrived by sunrise.  Not only did I desire good morning light and a better chance of seeing animals, I also wanted a parking space.

Magenta paintbrush

Although rising so early and driving in the dark wasn't much fun, all was forgiven as I started up the park road to Paradise and caught the morning sun illuminating Mt. Rainier beautifully.  Finally arriving at the lodge, I was delighted to have my choice of parking spots!

Lovely lupine field

Donning hiking boots, backpack and camera gear, it was time to get to work.  I started out as I always do when visiting here, taking the Skyline trail counter-clockwise.

Mountain close-up

I could tell that the showy summer blooms were on their way out.  But I still found enough floral goodness in the first half mile to get some decent shots.  And the mountain was putting on a nice show as well.

This drainage area was full of wildflowers

Passing by a talus slope known for its pika population, I sat and waited for some "meeps" from these cute little rock-rabbits.  It didn't take long before I heard one vocalize, and I was lucky enough to capture it peeking out from a rock, it's mouth full of food for the winter.

 

Pink monkeyflowers brightened the landscape

Taking a short side jaunt down the Lakes Trail, I came upon a meadow full of purple lupine blooms.  With the mountain as a backdrop it made for some stellar images.  After several clicks of the camera, it was back to the Skyline Trail to see what else I could find.

Another view of this amazing bloom

The Skyline Trail climbed higher until I came upon a plateau.  Then, it wound downhill to a glacial stream crossing.  Here's where I found more flowers.  Rows and rows of bright pink monkeyflowers lined the braided channels.  Oh my goodness, it was lovely!  More photos may have been taken.....

Mama marmot and baby

After a prolonged photo session along the stream, I climbed back uphill through heather fields.  In these fields is where I spotted my first marmot.  Marmot sightings as quite common here, as these squeaky, fluffy woodchucks make their home on Mt. Rainier's flanks.  Even better, the marmot I saw had a cute baby beside her.

Marmot eyeing a yummy wildflower

Quickly changing camera lenses, I tried to get a few shots of the mother and child before they trotted away.  But they didn't seem interested in being my subjects, so I only got a few good images.

This chipmunk posed nicely for me

However, a nearby chipmunk had no problems posing on a rock for as long as I wanted.

Pink heather blooms

Beyond the critter sightings, the trail climbed, often steeply.  By now my left foot, still recovering from plantar fasciitis, was beginning to throb.  Realizing that the entire Skyline Trail circuit wouldn't be possible today, I downgraded my goals and decided to bail via the Golden Gate Trail.

A nice patch of magenta paintbrush

Although I knew the Golden Gate Trail wasn't far from my current position, it sure seemed to take awhile to reach the junction.  I suppose the uphill climb, warm weather, and angry foot didn't help any.

The butterflies were enjoying the flowers

But finally I reached the Golden Gate Trail.  Yay, blessed downhill from this point on!  I passed by a huge field of asters past full bloom and enjoyed a fun few minutes trying to photograph some butterflies landing on the wilted petals.

Well, hello there!

And then about halfway down, I came upon another marmot sighting.  This furry fellow was a bit more friendly and didn't seem to mind a camera-toting human following along.

Caught this guy in mid-chew

The marmot waddled over to a nearby wildflower patch and began inhaling all the blooms.  It was fun to watch him eat, but sad to see the marmot chewing up all the pretty flowers.  But better eaten by marmots than trampled by humans I guess.

Western Pasque flower seed heads

Wandering further downhill I came upon another marmot duo perched on a large rock.  Having a landscape lens on my camera at the time, I almost didn't change lenses.  But a man joined me in our marmot watch and convinced me to make the switch.  I'm glad I did!  If not, I wouldn't have caught this tender nose touch between the two.

Marmot kiss

By the time I intersected back with the Skyline Trail, it was nearly noon and the place was buzzing with people.  After enjoying near solitude for much of my trek, it was a rude interruption.  At that point, all I wanted to do was hightail it back to my car.  

Classic view of Myrtle Falls and Mt. Rainier

However, I did make one pit stop to check out the classic view of Myrtle Falls with Mt. Rainier as a backdrop.  And this time I caught the falls in nearly full light, instead of shadows like usual.  Midday light is good for something!

Tipsoo Lake in late afternoon

The lodge area and parking lot were swarming with people.  It was hot, kids were screaming, and I was ready to get the heck out of dodge!  I sat on a nearby bench, eating my sandwich, until a bus of elderly people unloaded right next to me.  As the old folks began circling, eyeing my perch, I decided to finish my lunch elsewhere.

Tipsoo Lake

Stevens Canyon Road, which connects the east and west sides of the park. was closed for construction, so I ended up driving the long way through Packwood to reach Tipsoo Lake.  But I was again rewarded for my persistence, with some lovely flower fields surrounding the lake.

View from Upper Tipsoo Lake

I ended up sleeping in my car at the Sunrise lodge area and awoke the next morning to a glorious sunrise over Mt. Rainier.  But the previous day's hiking had done my foot in, and I could only manage a mere 4 miles before turning around and heading back to my car.  

Sunrise on Mt. Rainier

Still, at least I'd gotten a visit to Mt. Rainier National Park.  Although it was fast and furious, I'm so glad I made the time.  I came away with dozens of great images and enjoyed myself immensely. 

Mt. Rainier, thanks for the memories!  I'll see ya again next August!  

Crystal Lakes

When planning my most recent trip to Mt Rainier National Park (see part one), I looked for a trail to hike the second day in the same neighborhood as Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap trailhead.  I discovered a nearby trail to the Crystal Lakes that wasn't far from the campground I was staying at and decided it would be day two's goal.  

Uphill through the boring forest

I didn't really pay much attention to the hike description until the night before, when sitting in my campsite I finally read the details of the trail I'd attempt the next day.  Copied from the WTA (Washington Trails Association) website, it mentioned the total elevation gain was 2600 feet in three miles, half of this ascent in the first 1.3 miles!  That was an awfully steep climb, especially for my limited fitness coming back from brain surgery.  Gulp, what did I get myself into?

These 3 trees were kind of spooky

I briefly considered bailing and hiking a shorter, flatter trail.  But then I thought to myself, no, I'd picked this trail, it was a place I'd never been, and although it looked steep, I could take it slow.  How bad could it be?

Lower Crystal Lake

So the next morning I packed up my camping gear and made the 10-minute drive to Crystal Lakes trailhead, 4 miles into the park boundary off of Hwy 410.  Upon parking in the gravel pullout that served as the trailhead, I noticed a sign tacked to a nearby tree.  It warned there had been a high occurrence of vehicle break-ins at this parking area.  With all my camping stuff in the car, the sign made me briefly reconsider my trail choice.  But my gear was well hidden and I reasoned the bad guys probably weren't around at 8 am on a Wednesday morning.  Carry on!

Fall color between the lakes

Dashing across Hwy 410 to the trailhead proper, the hike began by crossing Crystal Creek on a cute log footbridge.  That was the only flat spot - once past the bridge this trail took off on a relentlessly steep uphill gradient.

Stripes of color

I'd mentally prepared myself for the uphill climb and maintained a leisurely pace, allowing frequent rest breaks.  Normally hiking breaks happened when I stopped to photograph things, but this trail didn't have much of interest.  It was all boring, mossy forest for the first two miles.  Luckily the morning weather was chilly and foggy so I didn't have to worry about overheating on this uphill climb.

It looked as though someone had painted the underbrush

In 1.3 miles I came to a junction with the trail to Crystal Peak.  An additional 2.5 miles and 1800 feet of elevation gain would take me to the top of this mountain.  Although it was tempting, I realized this was even more distance and elevation gain than the trail I was already climbing.  Not needing to add to my misery, I decided to save that trek for another day.

Crystal Peak

Past the Crystal Peak junction the hike description mentioned a couple fleeting views of Mt Rainer through the trees.  However, the cloudy, foggy weather put a kibosh on that.  So onward I slogged through more dense forest.  I was getting tired of climbing without visual rewards.  Where was that first lake?

Crimson leaves

Just when I was beginning to wonder if I'd taken the wrong trail, a sign for Lower Crystal Lake came into view.  Finally!  Happily I veered onto the side trail to the lakeshore and enjoyed a short stretch of downhill grade.

A pop of color next to the trail

Lower Crystal Lake was lovely.  Rimmed by golden grasses, it's jade-green water was bounded overhead by craggy peaks.  The mountains kept disappearing into foggy clouds, giving the lake and it's surroundings an air of mystery.  Chatting with a backpacker who'd set up camp nearby I envied his campsite choice.  What a great place to spend an evening!

Upper Crystal Lake

But my journey wasn't done yet.  Another half mile further was Upper Crystal Lake, rumored to be even better.  So I tore myself away from the lower lake and resumed the uphill climb.  

Fog rising off the lake

After the fabulous fall color on the Sheep Lake - Sourdough Gap Trail, I was expecting the same here.  But the first two miles had been thickly forested with not much color at all.  That all changed in between Lower and Upper Crystal Lake.  Right away, I began seeing colorful huckleberry bushes.  Then orange-leafed mountain ash trees began to show themselves.  Through gaps in the forest I began to see clearings.  These treeless slopes were full of autumn hues of every shade.  So beautiful!  In addition, Crystal Peak began to poke it's summit above the trees.  The high overcast skies made the colors absolutely pop.  After 2 1/2 boring miles, my camera finally got some use.  There was too much to photograph!  It took me a long time to cover the half mile between lakes.

Mountain peeping over the Upper Crystal lake

Despite all the colorful distractions, I finally arrived at the shore of Upper Crystal Lake.  And, yes it was even more lovely than it's lower cousin.  Surrounded by tall, rocky peaks and slopes dotted with fall colors, the lake was breathtaking.  Fog hovered on the water's surface and drifted upward, temporarily obscuring nearby mountains.  One peak remained cloaked under clouds, but the others would peek in and out of their white curtains.

Colorful shoreline

A trail contoured around the north shoreline, so I followed it through technicolor meadows full of huckleberry bushes.

Lots of red huckleberry bushes

Such a gorgeous place!  Reaching the far end of the lake, I sat by the water and rolled out my lunch.  I entertained myself by watching the foggy clouds drift over the surrounding peaks and taking tons of photos.  Except for another man who'd hiked to the lake before me and had already left, I had the place to myself.

Rocky peak and colorful shore

Upper Crystal Lake was so lovely I didn't want to leave.  But after sitting for a good half hour, the day's chill was seeping into my body.  Time to get moving and warm up!  I reluctantly bid the wonderful lake and it's colorful surroundings a sad goodbye.  As a parting gift, the easternmost mountain, which had remained under clouds the entire time, suddenly threw back the white veil and revealed it's craggy slopes.  I took one final photo of this mountain's bare face before packing the camera away for the trek back down.

Dazzling meadow

The downhill journey wasn't a lot of fun.  After passing Lower Crystal Lake it was back to the moss-filled, uninteresting forest once again.  If that wasn't bad enough, my left foot began to hurt.  My hiking boots, now 3 years old, were wearing out, and the insole had bunched up under the ball of my foot.  The constant downhill pounding wasn't helping things.  I limped along (literally!) trying to lessen the pressure on my left foot. 

Lunch view

The return trip seemed to take forever, but finally I heard highway traffic and then the trailhead sign came into view.  After tackling the Crystal Lakes trail, I'd hoped to stop by nearby Silver Falls and explore the short path to this cascade.  But by now my left foot was throbbing, so I knew today's hiking was done.  Not only that, but I was physically tired from the steep trek.  Like the previous day's hike, I had to remind myself that it was only three short months (in September that is) since my brain surgery and my body was still very much healing.

Upper Crystal Lake pano

But on the plus side I'd been able to hike all the way to Upper Crystal Lake, 2600 foot elevation gain and all!  And although tired and sore, I'd survived.

Afterwards, looking at a map I found out that these two lakes were also accessible from the PCT via Sourdough Gap, the hike I completed the first day.  If I had kept on going north from Sourdough Gap, I would've eventually reached Upper Crystal Lake.  Something to try next time!

A final view before heading back down the trail

Although the first couple miles was awfully boring, the Crystal Lakes trail redeemed itself with two beautiful lakes and several mountain meadows full of autumn color.  The steep uphill trek was the price of admission to this special place.  Beautiful places in nature don't come free.  But the effort to get there is always worth it.

(P.S.  My car and it's contents were untouched.  I guess the thieves take Wednesdays off!)