Wonderful Washington State

Mt. Rainier is easily seen from the air and ground. It is such a massive rock, you can navigate the area as if it were a beacon! I found myself using it to determine if I was headed north or south. And each time it was viewed, it had a different personality - depending on how it was reflecting the sun against a deep-blue sky. Mother Nature was cooperating with me on my first day in the Pacific Northwest (August 2006), allowing such radiant and clear opportunities to see the great Mt. Rainier as I approached from the west. Since I'm not in the greatest shape, most of my plans revolve around small, easy hikes.

Upon arrival at the natonal park, my main goal is to get to Paradise for lunch. First stopping at Kautz Creek for a couple photo opportunities of the mountain, I then took the Trail of the Shadows a little further down the road. This is a flat,easy, and nicely maintained trail that includes interpretive information and descriptions of the areas trees and plants. If you love gardening, don't miss this trail!

After many breathtaking views of the mountain and its surroundings, I arrived at Paradise for lunch. Obviously, I wasn't the only one with this game plan. Very busy and difficult to find a parking place (especially since the lodge area was under construction). After grabbing a hamburger/chips and birds-eye views at the visitor center, I tried another easy trail - Nisqually. It's about a 45 minute walk with lots of wildflowers.

After Paradise, I continued on the road heading east - stopping at various pull-outs to enjoy the smells of the pines. Next stop - the Grove of the Patriarchs trail. This is a great trail for kids, and there are many along the way today. Some of the trees are giants, where the babbling Ohanapecosh River creates an island for this old forest.

I stayed the night at Crest Ridge Lodge in nearby Packwood, Washington. Nice town with a small town ambience, and just the right options for vacation food and fun.

The next day found my way to Mt. St. Helens via US Rt 12 and Forest roads 25 & 99. The Pacific Northwest is all that I imagined it would be along these roads...full of majestic trees, creeks, and winding roads. If you're visiting Mt. Rainier, take the extra couple hour drive to Mt. St. Helens, it's worth it for the experience. The blast zone is eerily quiet early in the morning, I felt like I was the only one in existence for miles. The volcano is still steaming in August 2006 during my visit.

I only spent a couple days in this area, and wished I had scheduled more time to take in the rugged beauty and greenery of the Cascade mountains.

Quick Tips:

As much as I enjoyed the trails, a more avid hiker would be in seventh heaven at Mt. Rainier National Park. So many trails to choose from, from the short day-hikes I enjoy to more strenuous and lengthy mountain climbing. As for me - I enjoy looking up on the mountain, not down.

A suggestion...use the map provided by the national park service to navigate and plan your visit to the park. I also use the website www.nps.gov to make plans ahead of time to see where I want to spend most of my time. Their website is full of information including detailed trail descriptions.

If you're planning on spending a few days in the area, don't miss Mt. St. Helens. It may be a couple hour drive from Mt. Ranier, but the journey along forest roads provides wonderful Washington scenery at its best. On the morning I went, the mountain was still steaming from the volcanic vent.

There are many places to stay around Mt. Ranier, but I found the Packwood area to be the most accessible to my travel plans. It is a small town, but provided everything this traveler needed from lodging to groceries to an ice cream shop.

Best Way To Get Around:

I always use AAA to make travel reservations, and am glad I used them to reserve a rental car from Hertz at Sea-Tac airport. I saved some money, and got a really nice rental (Hyundai Azerra) that was well equipped inside, and handled the mountainous highways and forest roads very well.<br/><br/>This Ohio driver was surprised at how the Washington folk drive (I know, we Ohioans are rude and always drive in the wrong lane)! Even on the interstates, the traffic was around or under the speed limit in most areas. I was impressed with the state of Washington in how they maintain their roads, especially safety road signs and design.

A good room with a great price. Air conditioned (not something all hotels provide in the Pacific Northwest) was especially appreciated since there was a heat wave in August 2006.

Also appreciated was the lobby microwave. I saved money by shopping at the local grocery and reheating meals in the lobby. The in-room miniature fridge was very convenient for keeping cold beverages and apples handy.

A friendly staff welcomed me, and provided a front patio area where I swapped stories with other hotel guests while watching various birds soaring the skies above.

A short hike on a well-maintained trail. There are bubbly cold springs along the trail. Not to be missed are the many varieties of plants and trees - Douglas firs, Red Alden with white bark, and ferns everywhere.

The Nisqually Trail is located at Paradise and starts near the visitor center. About a 45 minute hike, it is not strenuous and very well-maintained.

Lots of wildflowers including lupines were blooming, even in August 2006 when I took the trek. It was a very warm day, and many flies were a nuisance - but the butterflies were enjoyable.

Lush vegetation among old-growth forest with huge Douglas fir trees and Western Red Cedars. The Grove of the Patriarchs is a relatively flat trail that winds along the Ohanapecosh River which babbles the whole journey.

Even on the hottest day, the trees shade most of the trail, creating an enjoyable hike. Some of the trail is on boardwalk, rising you above the ferns and mulch below. The size of the trees located on the island in the river are imense and have to be seen to be believed.

One of the first stops along the main road in Mt. Rainier National Park. The parking area has restrooms, and a short interpretive trail. A good spot to review the map provided by the national park service and plan your visit.