Reflection Lake
After feeling that nothing could beat the Naches Peak Trail, husband and I set off on the Lakes Trail in the Paradise area of Mt. Rainier and changed our minds.
The night had brought fearsome thunder, followed by a downpour, repeated again later in the night. Morning arrived in foggy gray, which continued to surround us as we drove to the trailhead. When we reached Reflection Lakes, the beginning of the trail, sun broke through and brightened the muddy trail. Behind the lake, Mt. Rainier still wore a gray hood.
The trail up to Paradise Visitor’s Center wandered through the woods, crossing a rocky, chattering stream, with occasional views of peaks behind us. Huckleberry bushes lined many sections of the trail, holding luscious blue fruits that we nibbled on.
The uphill wore me down, as usual, but then we reached the aptly named Paradise. Mt. Rainier still hid her head behind the clouds, but at least the base showed. We took a short lunch break by the visitor’s center—not too crowded in September—and then hiked on. Now views turned spectacular. A new alpine meadow appeared around each bend, and the higher we hiked, the more blooms still lingered on the flowers. Craggy peaks and hills rose in the background with fog creeping into the valleys between. Green fields studded with rocks ran up to touch the mountain.
Mt. Rainier
We stopped to rest in one rocky field by a stream. Soon marmots were popping out of holes to check us out. Later we saw blue grouse. Young ones followed their mother into the brush. An adult male gobbled huckleberries from plants along the trail. He would trot a short distance down the trail as we approached, but then get distracted by the juicy berries. Finally he turned off on a faint trail into the brush where he could eat his lunch undisturbed.
Marmot
As we hiked back down toward Reflection Lakes, the fog moved in, and a drop or two of rain hit our faces. We walked past tiny alpine tarns and green meadows shrouded in fog back to the trailhead. Six miles completed and truly a gem of a hike! And the rain held off until we were back inside our little travel trailer, cozy and secure.
Sparrow Thoughts 
Beautiful! Your last photos were gorgeous, too, and I’ve “flipped through” your blog (as if it were a book) and it looks like I should expect to be inspired and awed every time I visit.
I love the contrast between the blue sky in your first photo, from Reflection Lake, against the last one where the tall evergreens almost vanish into the white. The third photo down, showing the clouds roll in but not overwhelm the mountain yet, is a fantastic capture.
Ansel Adams said he didn’t photograph mountains, he shot weather. As summer marches on into fall, you’ve done a spectacular job of capturing that change. I went hiking yesterday and got soaked, but in the miles I covered I didn’t see a single thing to photograph, just dreary wet. It takes a lot of talent and inspiration to break out of that and see the beauty that’s all around you. Well done! 🙂
Forrest, you are much too kind, but thank you! I have always loved Ansel Adams’ work, and I’m sure it has affected the way I see the world around me. I work on my photography, but I still have a LOT to learn. Having looked through the beautiful photos on your blog, I think you are way ahead of me! So I especially appreciate your encouragement. Thanks again! 🙂
What a beautiful integration of your skilled photography and appreciative words.
Thank you so much, Joy! It was a beautiful place to both photograph and write about–but especially just to be there.
You know, I could not see that marmot at all in the small picture at first. After I looked at the larger version it was obvious. Now I see it in the small picture. At first I only saw different coloured rocks. Of course, not knowing what to expect as a marmot was a great disadvantage. Now I see that it is like an anorexic wombat.
A lesson in how our vision of the world is influenced by our expectations.