Mount Rainier

On Wednesday Tony and I hired a car and drove to Mount Rainier. If there is one place I've been that has made me speechless it is this. We were heading to a place named Paradise. I think the best way to describe it is in pictures.

So we start out on the average 6 lane A road, perhaps equivallent to Team Valley.

Then we start the arduous journey down Highway 7.

On the way we find a reservoire where you can swim. Note to self for next time, bring costume.

We entered the National Park and decided it was time for a break. But then we were confronted with this choice. It was a tough one.

But the mountain was calling. We had to carry on.

Rainier has one of the most complex glacier systems in the states. This is a full shot of one of them.

All this snow and ice melts. It has to go somewhere. So there are lots of waterfalls too.

We reached Paradise after a lot of photo stops and excited yelps. There is a brand new visitor centre there built in the same style as the original ones made in the early 1900s. Its incredible to think of people driving up there in their Ford Model Ts

So we had to go for a walk, even though I was wearing my sandals. Thank goodness they were waterproof sea kyaking ones or I don't know how I'd have got there!

So on the way back down we pretty much drove in blissful, peaceful silence. Soaking up the atmosphere and the wildlife was about all we could do.

We went back to the waterfalls

And drove past some more snow

And had another break

And stopped at the reservoire

Then headed back into Tacoma via Puyallup

And they returned home tired, but happy.