In the Shadow of Mt. Rainier

At 14,411 feet tall, Mt. Rainier is the most topographically prominent mountain in the United States.  You can see it from miles and miles away, looming like a majestic giant.  It seems to have a powerful force that draws you closer as you approach.  You are required to seek its face and explore its glaciers, its lower landscape, its wildflowers and its stories.  We knew that there would still be a large amount of snow on the ground, but I don’t think we were prepared for how extensive the snowpack would be or how far down the mountain the line would reach.  Our plans for exploring the many features of this great mountain were interrupted… we did not have trekking poles or crampons or snow shoes…

But we did have an adventurous spirit.  We set out early for the Paradise area of the park, knowing that it would be very crowded on a weekend day and that we might not be able to find parking.  Our early start paid off, and we were able to find a parking spot to head out on the Nisqually Viewpoint trail in an attempt to see the end of the Nisqually Glacier.  Three steps out of the parking lot and up some stairs, the snow greeted us.  “What have we gotten ourselves into?” we thought.  But there were tall snow poles marking the trail and we were able to pick out where to go next by following them – sometimes almost sliding down the hill on our backsides – and we reached our destination relatively easily.  Likely the most studied glacier on Mt. Rainier, it was fascinating to see its terminus and how it has retreated over the years.  Looking below, we saw the beginnings of the Nisqually River, which carries water from the glacial melt along with debris in its flow.

On the way back, the desire to play in the snow was too great not to indulge just a bit.  We set down our packs and began to run freely… Isaac throwing snowballs from the tree well forts, Abby dodging snowballs and dancing on pointe by digging the toe of her boot into the snow, and me – I was doing cartwheels and jumping in the air (with Matt behind the camera trying to capture the craziness).  It was almost too much to take in.  We were playing in the snow…in the shadow of Mt. Rainier…on June 22^nd.  Amazing.  Priceless.  A gift to be savored.  We did not make it to Panorama Point as we had originally planned, but the experience of running free in the snow together was better than any other vista I could have imagined.

After a quick stop for lunch at Box Canyon, we headed over to the east side of the park and the Ohanapecosh region for more exploring below the snow line.  We hiked a loop from the campground that took us 6 miles or so past Silver Falls, into the Grove of the Patriarchs, and back.  Walking through old growth forest, we enjoyed listening to the sound of birds among us and the sound of rushing water growing ever closer.  Silver Falls carries water of the Ohanapecosh River from the glaciers above over the falls and onward to the sea.  The spray from its crystal blue waters formed a perfect rainbow as we approached a viewpoint… Wow!  We all stood in awe at this view that was not to be believed.  It was surreal… another gift.  Although we had barely scratched the surface of the mighty mountain, she had smiled upon us and given us a day to remember.