August 24, 2002
The weather around the mountain changes so quickly, you have to come prepared. Though it was partly cloudy and warm when I started out at the Jackson Visitor Center in Paradise, it began to rain and thunder by the time I reached Glacier Vista, one and half mile up the paved trails. Don't be fooled by the nicely paved trails--it's quite steep and a workout at this altitude. At the visitor center I got a map of the trails around Paradise. You can practically hike without a map because all the side trails eventually converge, but it's a good idea to have one with you just in case. A popular destination is a two-mile hike up the Skyline Trail to Panorama Point. Another is the five-mile loops on the Skyline Trail. I got to Glacier Point. From there, the views of Nisqually Glacier, Gibraltar Rock, Cathedral Rocks and Tatoosh Range were fantastic, though the peak of Mount Rainier was thickly covered with clouds most of the time. Even in late August, wildflowers were all around. It's one of the most beautiful hikes I've had this year. I saw a deer munching on fresh grass and flowers--how sweet it must've tasted. Climbers use the trails to reach Camp Muir and eventually to attempt to reach the summit. I saw a group of climbers high on Muir Snowfield, some sliding down on skies. The view was even better on the way down to Paradise: A web of winding trails through the flower fields. Paradise, indeed.
Click HERE to see more around Mount Rainier.
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