Teamramble recently spent a weekend at Mt. Rainier National Park. We spent some time exploring the park, did a little hiking on Rampart Ridge and stayed at the National Park Inn.
Exploring the park:
Mt. Rainier National park is really big, over 368 square miles. We saw a few of them. We entered at the SW corner of the park, and drove to Longmire. Then Paradise, then Box Canyon and ended up in the Ohanapecosh Valley at the Grove of the Patriarchs, a last stand of ancient Douglas Fir trees. Several of them a million feet high.
From the Mt. Rainier web site, "Big old trees, standing snags, large downed logs, a multi-layered canopy, and logs in streams define the old-growth forest and give it character. Three giant species: Douglas-firs with furrowed bark, western hemlocks with lacy-needled branches, and western red cedars with buttressed bases dominate the forest canopy. These trees and associated species have survived undisturbed by avalanche, fire or flood for more than 10 centuries, while storms of a thousand winters have battered the treetops."
What is amazing about this part of park is that even though the trees are huge, many of them are dread. Several of the trees are hallow and the rangers have posted signs telling you not to touch etc. The ecosystem of this area is highly fragile. To keep you off of it they have built a wooden walkway that goes around the all the trees. Even though they are hallow, it is still awe inspiring to stand next to a tree that was old before Columbus learned port from starboard.
I once stood in front a tree, this big.
To make a drive through the park, budget about 4 hours. Mostly because you stop and take pictures every few minutes. The scenery is magnificent, the opportunities to view are constant and the park is very easy to navigate as it really only has one road. See some of the highlights of our trip below.
This is a view of box canyon, it's a long way down.
Rampart Ridge: (Top) We would have done more hiking, but when we went (July 08) there was still TONS of snow. Paradise wasn't just paved, it was frozen too. See the below image.
Pardon me snow, is this seat taken?
We hiked a trail called, "Rampart Ridge". It takes off across the street from the National Park Inn, so that was handy. Trail is just shy of 5 miles long, with only 1,400ft of vertical gain. Despite it's name, at no time are you actually on a ridge so far as you can tell. You do hike to a look out point, which was fun.
Unfortunately, the way down we ran into the most prolific mosquito nursery this side of the Florida Keys. A grungy ugly bog is just a few yards from the trail at one point, breeding all kinds of mosquito's (all kinds with emotional issues anyway.). The bugs fail to stay at the bog and have all decided to venture forth and seek their fortunes biting the be-jesus out of me. Seriously, it's all gone.
So if you decide to hike Rampart Ridge, just go to the lookout point and turn around.
National Park Inn: (top)
We spent the night in the Mt. Rainier National Park Inn, A vintage 1911 log cabin in Longmire. Rustic and old, but comfy. Kicking around the Inn it is easy to feel a nostalgia for a by gone time when a trip to a national park was sought after vacation, and tang was exotic. This 50s TV feeling was kept alive by the twin beds in our room.
Good night Lucy.
Surrounded by the splendor of the park, I became keen to a suspicion; Mt. Rainier National Park looks like Rivendell. Goes like this, Mt. Rainier National Park kinds looks like Rivendell. To prove my wild accusations, I have hidden a Rivendell screen shot in below with my pictures of the park. To find it you will need a keen eye a cunning wit, and to look closely at the middle one. Still, similar eh?
We had a great time at Mt. Rainier National Park, and would recommend it for anyone looking for a weekend in a twin bed. To view the rest of our pictures click below.
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