Aug 1 - Mt Ranier National Park

Have an 8am flight today heading for Seattle and ultimately, after a drive, to Mt Ranier National Park!! It'll be my 1st ever visit! Not expecting much today with the flight, rental car pickup (always a long affair for me at least), a drive and I'm sure a wait just to get into the park. Then with the national parks being packed, I'll be lucky to find a parking spot but I'm rolling the dice to see what happens.

I'm picked up by Uber just after 5am and taken to the airport. Yes, early for an 8am flight but it's my 1st time navigating the new SL airport. Turns out I didn't need the padding but oh well, there was no stress.

Flight was smooth and quick. My luggage was coming out as I reached the carosel. I quickly found the rental car bus and then found that National was closed and pointing people to the car pickup area. I made my way there, waited in line for at least 15 minutes only to be sent back upstairs to Alamo or Enterprise to get checked-in. Didn't matter what the sign said or a guy who was begging the guy on my behalf. So I trudge back upstairs to stand in line of about 8 people deep with only one clerk - Ugh!

But got my paperwork and my Subaru Impreza and was on my way. Traffic was very busy for a Sunday morning but reached my turn-off without issue and now I was on my way.

Nice drive with lots of large pine in spots and some beautiful lakes as I got nearer to Ashford (the small city where I am staying). Beautiful colors - looked almost glacier. (And I found out later that they are reserviors-so perhaps there is some glacier run-off in there especially after a super-heated week here.

I get < 5 miles outside the park and I reach "the line". Ugh! I turn around and headed back out to Ashford to check out the food scene and an Information Center - maybe there's a smaller hike I can kill sometime. Unfortunately, the Center was just a board. :( 

It's only 1:30 and I can't check-in so it's back to the line -- coincidentally, the line still starts in basically the same spot. It takes 1/2 hours (1.3 miles) to pass under the National Park sign 


and a Ranger. Lucky me, since I got a Park Pass, I get to buzz by 20 cars!

The curvy road, in spots, passes thru heavily forested areas - beautiful! And alongside, the Nisqually River - looks great down there.

It's very hazy out, so the views are well, hazy.

First stop, Longmire (ele: 2757). I walk the Trail of Shadows Trail thru a beautiful old forest. 

Lots of ferns, Vanilla-leaf, Bunch Dogwood (already bloomed), skunk cabbage and many other green plants. It's an incredible forest!

I see a few squirrels running around.

And other artifacts.


After 0.5 miles, I reach the Rampart Ridge Trail. I start up because that what I was planning today. I decide to only go the 1.8 miles to the viewpoint - just trying to see as much as I can. Well, it's hot, it's late to walk 4miles and there's lots to see so I abort Rampart Ridge (I read there's only one good view which is at the viewpoint). 

Back at my car I continue on stopping at a pull-off near Cougar Rock. I takes awhile but I find the path to Carter Falls. The trail heads down the Nisqually River's river bed and finally reaches the actual river. Dark, wavy and moving fast. And my first view of Mt Ranier! Unfortunately, there's a big cloud over her peak. :(

The trail continues but it's going the wrong way to what should be Carter Falls but I take it anyway. A large log with a rail crosses over the river. It's actually not very far above the river. 

There's no trail over here. Not sure where the Carter Falls trail it - maybe it was the one that started in the woods near the campground - oh well. Perhaps I'll figure that out tomorrow.

I continue the road on passing Christine Falls - no parking, passing Comet Falls Trail (packed), passing Narada Falls (I'm not waiting for parking) so I continue up to Paradise (5420ft). I know it's a long shot finding parking but hey, you never know; there's lots of cars exiting the park (i.e., going west). When I reach Paradise, it's packed. Time to head back down.

This time I stop at Narada Falls - beautiful!

Then at Christine Falls (from the trail)- very cool!


There's still a view from the road but there's too much traffic. Perhaps I can stop tomorrow on my way to Paradise.

Time to head back to town and the hotel.

In town I stop back at the Info Board - there an outdoor restaurant where I grab a slice of pizza and have a nice conversation with a couple at my table. They are locals and just taking a day trip to the park to enjoy their motorcycles.

Time end my day and prepare for a big day tomorrow in Paradise!!

Crazy but good day.

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