Paradise

We're always itching for a good dose of alpine flowers, and the Paradise area at Mt Rainier is a prime location for indulging. So, once again we headed down to The Mountain on another gorgeous day. One of the downsides (at least for Tom) is the popularity of the area. Crowds are ever present, and hiking in a conga line is just one of the bitter pills to swallow for the beauty. We hiked up to Panarama Point, and decided to head off the main trail for a bit to find a good lunch spot. We soon stumbled upon a Park ranger, who had a secret spot she that she used for her lunch breaks (great minds think alike). She aimed us up a bit higher to McClure Rock, and it was perfect. Big views and solitude. On the way up, the flowers didn't seem as prolific as in some of our previous visits, but on our way down we got our fill! Brian joined us for the car ride, but left us to our slow pace and humble objectives, while he blasted up to Camp Muir and down to Reflection Lakes. Just another beautiful day in Paradise!