Paradise

On March 2, 1899, President William McKinley signed a bill passed by Congress authorizing the creation of Mount Rainier National Park, the nation’s fifth national park. . My visit to Mt. Rainier National Park was my first visit, believe it or not to our National Park System. Sure I’ve been to State Parks before, but I wasn’t prepared for the shear beauty of being in a National Park. I arrived early in the morning and staying until well past sunset. I explored two areas of the park, hiking one trail in it’s entirety and 5 others in parts. I also spent time checking out the Paradise Inn and General Store. As the day went on, I noticed the crowds. Couldn’t help it, but the crowds were large and I just wanted some time alone in the forest. Surprisingly, this wasn’t hard to do. I took notice that the crowds definitely stay close to the road and trailheads. All I had to do was hike just a short bit up a trail and I was to take solace in the quiet of the woods. Listening to the sound of the wind through the trees or rushing water of a stream. It was late in the day, that late mid-afternoon when the light is harsh and the sun is high. I decided to head up a trail across from Reflection Lakes. This was Paradise trail, and I didn’t have to go far. Though weird…snow spikes were needed, when the surrounding area was free of snow, it was refreshing. As a photographer, I’m always looking around no matter what time of day for photo opportunities, I turned around and saw Mt. Rainier through the Pines on the trail. I climbed higher and found a place to relax keeping Rainier in view. I sat by a little stream, watching a chipmunk run back and forth. After a while, I went back to the car to retrieve my pack, and head back up the same trail. I was just struck by the way the sun was hitting the top of Rainier, and how the clouds were moving over the top. I just couldn’t imagine a better way to spend late afternoon – early evening in the park.