Mt. Rainier National Park - The Green and Mean Side

We were lucky to have a sunny weekday to explore. Plan to avoid the week-ends if you can.From the Mt. Rainier National Park site:

The current snowline is around 5000 feet. Due to heavy snowfall this past winter (2010-2011), melt-out is not expected until sometime in August.

For this reason we did not get to hike the meadows, but there was still plenty to do and see. Amazingly, flowers were blooming heartily next to the piles of snow along the roads and trails.

Cougar Rock. Do you see it?

Silver Falls - A beautiful hike!

This bear was browsing on the side of the road.
VIDEO OF BEAR BELOW SUNRISE AT MT. RAINIER NP.

Cascade Mountain Fox
We aren't supposed to see this fox, but they are coming to people for food.
This one was carrying a chunk of bread.

Grove of the Patriarchs

VIDEO OF SILVER FALLS

See the National Park site for more information.
http://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm

Mt. Rainier National Park (Where To Keep Cool In A Heat Wave)

The country is in a heat wave just about everywhere on the map. Perhaps we were lucky to plan a trip to Mt. Rainier as a side trip to a conference in Seattle, because heat was NOT a problem there. Twenty feet of snow was more the speed. Yep! Not kidding!

The Mt. Rainier National Park has several climates and types of terrain within the park. The summit is at 14, 400 feet, but the snow is plentiful at Paradise which is at about 6,000 feet.

Sunrise on the east side of the summit, only opened July 1st, and that was with great effort to move snow from the roads and parking lots. We are so glad they did. Snow in July was refreshing. I hope you're cooling off.