The Washington State Chronicles

The Incredible Adventures of Karen C.

Paradise...literally.

So sorry everyone for practically disappearing there for awhile, but March has been rearing its ugly head -- weather wise. We've had rain and snow mixed, then sunshine and clear skies, and following soon after, black skies and hail...all in the same day. Ha! Good ol' Washington spring weather for ya.

I did get a chance to get out a few weeks back on February 27th with my Uncle. He has long shared my love and passion for the outdoors and photography, so it's always a pleasant trip when I can spend some quality time with my Uncle (aka my second dad).

We woke up super early and hit the road with the sun barely peeking its way over the mountain range -- our destination? Paradise, Mt. Rainier National Park. Rumors of the snow level being at 3,000 feet made us a tiny bit anxious, but we were determined to get as far up the mountain as we could with no snow tires. The ranger outpost reported that all east side roads were closed, and boy did they mean "closed." On our way up to Reflection Lake, our GPS told us to keep going straight once we got up to Paradise, but a huge ten foot wall of snow baracaded our way.

(Yeah...10 feet of snow up at Paradise)

We decided to see if we could hike a bit farther up the meadow once we got there, but after about fifteen minutes of plowing through knee deep snow drifts, we opted to turn back. We weren't going anywhere without snowshoes! Paradise was gorgeous with all the sparkly snow, and the mountain peaks off in the distance reminded me of something straight out of a Tolkien novel. The icy, crisp, clean air whipped new life into our lungs, and I stood in awe at the vast Cascade range looming up before us. Sometimes I just feel so small...

I caught my first glimpse at the newly remodeled Paradise Lodge, burried deep in its icy tomb, and the new Jackson Visitor's center which I was slightly less impressed with. I can't wait to return to the lodge in the spring. It's one of my favorite places, and holds many, cherished, childhood memories. We waited around Paradise for awhile hoping that the clouds would drift eastward, allowing us to capture a clear shot of the mountain. But if you know Rainier like I do, you know that it can make its own weather, and it decided to remain shy and hidden under a thick blanket of fog.


(Top view of Narada Falls from the parking lot)

After gazing at the amazing slopes of Mt. Rainier, we headed back down to see if we could catch a glimpse of Narada Falls and the Nisqually Glacier before tackling Kautz Creek yet again. It's one of the few places that's snow free during this time of year, so it sees a lot of traffic.

On the bridge near the Nisqually River Glacier, it was freezing! The wind whipped around the underneath side of the structure and over the top, cutting straight through my jacket. The views on top of the 150 foot bridge were breath-taking, and my Uncle and I both snapped photos of each other when we thought the other wasn't looking. :P

I was exhausted by the end of the trip, and it's a good thing my Uncle's new car has heated seats! We were up in the park for around six hours, and by the time I reached home, I was ready for a nap. The next morning dawned, and a red light filled my dark room, so I looked out the window to a gorgeous sunrise that only Washington State can provide. I love this state, and I'm so happy to be home.

(Early, pre-dawn sunrise)

(Later that day)

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