Late post - Mt Rainier

This is a bit of a late post about our Labor Day weekend trip to Mt Rainier, but I wanted to share because we had such a fun time!

It's about a 2-3 hour drive to Paradise, the main visitor spot for Mt Rainier. When we've gone in the past, we usually spend only an afternoon there because it's such a trek but this year, Scott had the foresight to book a room at the Inn inside the park! That let us take our time with our hikes knowing we had a place to prop up our weary feet when we were done.

We did two big hikes while we were there. Considering it was a holiday weekend and the parking lot was overflowing, I was really surprised at how few people we encountered on the trail. On our first day, we did a 6 miles hike maybe passed a total of 10 groups after we left the main visitors area. On the second day, our hike was much shorter but much much steeper and still only passed a handful of people. It was really nice, and I was also pretty impressed with how well the girls did. There must be something about being out in the big wide open that put them in good moods. Well, that, or the wild mountain blueberries that we found everywhere that sustained us on our hikes!

Anyway, we can't wait to go back. Here's a few snaps from our trip:

Pretty waterfalls near the Visitors Center.

Family selfie

Hiking up into the clouds. Lots of steps and switchbacks.

Looking down the mountaint

oh hello!

At the very top, there were still snow! BRRRR!

Stiking a pose!

On the way back down

Pit stop

How cute is this photo?

Back at the Inn, hanging out on the big King Chair

The really neat huge lamps

Day 2: another hike

This is the runoff from the Nisqually Glacier, which is way up at the top there, hidden by the clouds.

Playing on some logs

Beautiful wildflowers everywhere

Mountain blueberries!

Fog and clouds everywhere

Sisters

Cute buns

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