Friday, July 24, 2009

July 22, 2009

Mount Rainier National Park

Another pretty short drive to Mount Rainier National Park. 

01 Mt. Ranier Nat'l Park

From the entrance at the edge of the park it is about seven miles of twisty, climbing, 25 mph (sometimes slower) road to the campground.  Once we got there it took us over 30 minutes to settle on a campsite that would hold the carbus and was not reserved during the two days we wanted to stay.  There were lots empty sites but most of them were reserved starting two days later(weekend).  We had to verify that a possible spot was indeed open when we wanted it.  We finally got settled and had lunch.  The main visitor center for our corner of the park is another nine mile up the road past the campground.  We figured we would go there and check things out in preparation for our day tomorrow.  Get some information, take some pictures, and plan our day.  As we started up the road we noticed a sign that mentioned the possibility of a full parking lot at the center if lights were flashing.  They were not flashing and we could not see how a spot seemingly so remote could have that many visitors.  It was a bright sunny day with no clouds and we took advantage of every view spot on our way up.

02 Mt. Rainier1

When we reached the visitor center at Paradise (so called because an early visitor thought it looked like what Paradise must look like) we found out the reason for the sign.  The lot which holds well over 200 cars was packed.  The lights were not flashing because the overflow parking (parallel parking along the exit road for a mile and a half ) was only three quarters full.  This was a Wednesday afternoon.  We decided on a Plan B – do more things down the hill that afternoon and come back early tomorrow.  Headed back down, stopping at more spots including a couple of waterfalls and went to another visitor center at site of original park headquarters.  There are a couple of museums there as well as the inevitable Inn.  Every park has one it seems, sometimes more than one.  Rainier probably has five or six given it’s size and dispersed access points.  One museum was the former service station and had displays on transportation in the park.  On display outside was a brand new acquisition, it had been donated two days earlier.

Hiked a couple of trails and then back to campsite.  Ranger program that evening was on wild flowers of the park.  Very timely.  They are everywhere.



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