Mount Rainier 22 years later

Marmot near the Paradise Visitors Center

There are many beautiful photographs of Mt. Rainier.  On our early May 1999 trip, however, snowy Mt. Rainier was invisible in the white clouds.

I never had a “bucket list” because I am greedy and want to see and do everything. The list would be too long.  But I suppose Rainier could have been on such a list for this 2021 trip.

We visited on two days.  The first was beautiful, and the mountain view was clear. We enjoyed ourselves even though the park was crowded. Admission was free on the anniversary of the National Park Service.  We could not believe the miles of cars parked beside the road or the line of people waiting to get into the Paradise Visitors Center.  We could not imagine what inside was attracting people when they could have just enjoyed the breath-taking natural beauty all around.  Most probably never saw the marmot we observed as we passed their cars.

Alie stayed back at our hotel to rest on the second day while Michelle and I went into the park again and took a lovely easy hike above the Sunrise Visitors Center.  Mt. Rainier on that day, however, soon became hidden in a cloud.

Click on photos to enlarge and to read the captions.

Dates of our visit: 25, 26 Aug 21

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