The massive peak of the mountain, at 14,410 feet the tallest in the Cascades range, dominates the skyline from 100 miles away when it is visible. It's apparent height is magnified by the fact that most of its neighbors are about 6,000 feet. Even in midsummer it is snow covered and bright shining in the sun. When there is sun. The 25 major glaciers on its slopes is the highest number south of Alaska.
The park is only three hours from Seattle so it gets a lot of visitors that produce traffic jams and full campgrounds. We felt lucky to get site G-7 in Ohahapecosh Campground with huge Douglas firs all around. We went to explore the park and came back to find claim jumpers setting up camp in our site. After a brief discussion, in which Shirley nearly went postal, the interloper confessed and removed our registration tag from his shirt pocket. (It pays to marry a pit bull, I always say, unless she is sinking her teeth into me.)
Many of the trails stay snow covered until mid-July but the wildflowers reach a crescendo in late July and August. Though campgrounds and lodges book up solid, there is usually plenty of room on the trails once you get more than a mile or so from the trail head.
We entered the park from the west where it was rainy and foggy for three days. Shirley kept suggesting that we head around to the east side.
And she didn't rub it in a bit when we were greeted by this.
Big trees in the aptly named Grove of the Patriarchs.
Shirley loves bouncing on a swinging bridge.
The visitor center at Sunrise from which there are excellent trails.
Still ice at the small lakes at upper elevations.
Checking the trail map frequently to avoid making a wrong turn .
Hiking above the treeline. Above the clouds, too.
That streambed beyond the lake is glacial runoff.
The wildflowers were magnificent in mid-August.
When we left the park from the west side, it was still rainy and foggy. Glad we didn't hang around even longer waiting for it to clear.
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