Puyallup, wisely chosen by the Captain for its location between Seattle and Mt Rainier National Park, meant that, without too early a start, exploration of the mountain was possible. Having consumed a standard mountaineer’s breakfast of waffles and (now free) bacon, vehicles departed for Mt Rainier, albeit with slightly different itineraries. Some of the team chose to traverse the park by scenic, steam-powered, heritage railroad. Others, however, opted for the drive and walk option.
The diarist’s vehicle headed straight for Paradise, an area on the southern side of Mt Rainier, which is home to a hotel, as well as the mountain’s visitor centre. The drive took in yet more of the Washington countryside, which became increasingly densely wooded as we entered the park and climbed the twisting road to Paradise, which sits at 5,400 ft above sea level.
Upon arrival, trail guides were obtained and members of GBRT discussed how ambitious they felt. It was unanimously agreed that the “Gobblers Knob” trail, at 12.8 miles, was a little too far. A walk to “Glacier Vista”, estimated to take around an hour, seemed a much more favourable option. However, even this route boasted a 1000 ft elevation gain. The intrepid ‘climbers’ (most of the first part of the walk was on tarmac paths) set off, regardless, and soon found themselves in a landscape not dissimilar to that of an Alpine meadow. Various flora and fauna were sighted, including a Columbian black-tailed deer, chipmunks, and numerous American tourists. Having got as close as it is possible to get to the icy glaciers of Mt Rainier without crampons, the view was admired and photographs were taken (see below). Of particular interest was the flat top of Mt St. Helens, which was visible in the distance.
After enjoying the relative ease of the descent, during which we encountered another portion of the team, who had recently begun their ascent, lunch was taken at the visitors centre. Most individuals chose to consume some form of salad, as it is surprisingly expensive to have a shooting jacket re-tailored in the US, it turns out. Retracing our tire tracks, we snaked back through the park, reaching the hotel in the late afternoon. Most of the team dined in the hotel’s restaurant, before retiring to pack, in anticipation of the next day’s travel to Richland, on the other side of the Cascades.
Lollipop awards (Day 8):
None awarded.