Mt. Rainier is like a beacon of sorts. When we see it, we know we’re home. As you drive closer, the immensity of “her majesty” and the surrounding forest are awe inspiring. We met our Conservation Corps crew, that we funded for a summer of trail work. They were awe inspiring as well. Some veterans, some homeless, some future park employees. All dedicated to a summer stint of weeks in a tent and hard labor in exchange for a little money, sore muscles, newfound skills and many memories of the park.
-
- Mt. Rainier National Park uses crown sourced smartphone photography with GPS location and dates to track the effect of climate change on wildflowers.
-
- Signs like this enhance the timelessness of national parks.
-
- Standing on a fallen giant in the Grove of the Patriarchs.
-
- Tree roots have their own spectacular beauty and history of decades in the soil.
-
- Humbled by the giant trees in the Grove of the Patriarchs. Some of these Douglas Firs and Cedars are 1,000 years old.
-
- Our charming AirBNB in Packwood put us within 20 minutes of the park.
-
- A lazy marmot enjoying a sunny nap.
-
- John Muir, known as the “father of the national parks” was an early advocate for wilderness preservation.
-
- Pasque flowers in bloom are popular with the bees.
-
- Reflection Lake is surprisingly small, but it is positioned at just the right elevation to mirror the beauty of the mountain.
-
- Playing in the snow in shorts is a Mt. Rainier summer tradition.
-
- Feeling very small next to this 14,410 ft. mountain.
-
- Our Wonderland Trail Conservation Corps team!
-
- The new Mount Rainier National Park superintendent, Chip Jenkins.
-
- Our project will help repair damage to the Wonderland Trail, which encircles the 96 mile base of Mt. Rainier.
Leave A Comment