Mount Rainier National Park
|
Myrtle Falls Mount Rainier National Park |
August 22, 2017
Yesterday I was over in Eastern Oregon viewing the solar eclipse. Earlier today I ventured up close to some huge glaciers over at Sunrise. Now there still is time enough in the day for a little stroll at Paradise Park on the southern slope of Washington's grandest mountain. What a life.
The mountain is a bit cloudy now
Many walking options emanate from this spot, which is not surprising considering the incomparable endorsement on the trailhead stair steps:
Praise doesn't come any higher than this ⇔
Of course, this walk must be shared with droves of tourists, many of whom have never even tried on a hiking boot. I humor myself for a few minutes watching people climb these stairs, many of whom don't even bother to pause to read the inscription. Doubtless most of them have no clue that John Muir was principally responsible for the fact that parks such as this exist at all.
The late-afternoon lighting is amazing. I believe that the camera can tell most of the story by itself.
Cascade Aster
Dwarf Mountain Ash
California False Hellebore
It is necessary to clamber down some steep stairs to a viewpoint. Many don't even make the effort, thereby missing the falls completely.
Myrtle Falls
It has been seventeen years since my last visit here, which is way too long.
This is why I go hiking
Farther up on the Skyline Trail are several more
waterfalls. If I had the gumption for another
four-plus miles of walking, I would visit them all.
One of the cascades stands out in particular:
Sluiskin Falls
Oriental Hawksbeard
Pink Mountain Heather
Heading back
Fireweed
Mountain Laurel
My favorite photograph of the day features withering plants, of all things:
More Fringed False Hellebore -aka- Corn Lily
§: I never have visited a more good-feeling
place; and that says enough. John Muir was right. The Skyline
Trail now is near the top of my bucket list.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Flowers |  |
| Solitude |  |
