It has been a while since I last visited Mount Rainier. About 4 years to be exact. But it has left a lasting impression that I’ll hopefully never forget.
Rainier feels like the epicenter of a world of alpine beauty in Washington State. In every which way from this spot there seemed to be some sort of new mountain, trail, waterfall, and meadow to gawk at.
I spent most of my time in the aptly named Paradise, on the southern slope of Rainier. Extremely popular and touristy but still big enough to find your own space, particularly as you head higher up the Skyline Trail. What would a beautiful American national park be without an outrageously expensive hotel and food court nearby anyway?
As I headed up to the Panorama Point, and the swathes of out-of-shape tourists further thinned out, I was hoping to catch, well, a perfect panorama of the surrounding land. Unfortunately, thick clouds began to roll in, as they commonly do in this region known for its heavy rainfall, and my should-be pristine view was completely masked by dense water vapor. Me and my companions, already pretty tired, didn’t take long to head back down to grab some burritos.
On the way back down (and the way up too) we were still met by breathtaking views. Epic glaciers hung off of perilous cliffs with waterfalls careening down them, lush meadows in full-bloom wildflower season, quaint streams, and tiny blue lakes lined with conifers of all kinds.
I have hopes to come back one day and summit the top of Mount Rainier.
