Now that we are plagued with wildfires all up and down the West Coast, with gray and orange skies, I am fondly reminiscing about my trip to the Pacific Northwest to visit family at the beginning of August. A highlight (among several) was a trip to Mt. Rainier, and Paradise Lodge. With this pandemic, everyone is visiting national parks. Fortunately, we were smart enough to visit on a Monday, August 5th, when parking spots were still available at Paradise Valley, elevation 5,400 feet. I brought warm clothes, but it turned out to be exceptionally warm and bright.
The meadows were in full bloom; a display of wildflowers so profuse I have seen nothing like it anywhere. My boys and I did some quick hiking to Myrtle Falls, which has a 72 foot drop. I've read it's the most photographed falls at the park, so we took some photos too.
Two weeks later, on August 15th, Ben went back to the mountain with friends, this time to hike to 7200 feet. Mind you, this is only halfway up this magnificent mountain. Note the snow on the ground in August. Ben enjoyed the hike, despite sunburn and the heels falling off his old hiking boots.
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