While camped near Seattle, Washington, we visited Mt. Rainier National Park for a day hike.
Mt. Rainier towers over the landscape. We could see it from our campsite, though we were something like eighty miles away.
When we arrived at the visitor center at the base of the mountain, we spent some time watching numerous expedition groups inventorying and prepping their gear for a climb to the summit of Rainier. The climbers had all of the usual overnight backpacking gear, and they also had ice axes, crampons, and climbing helmets.
It was neat to see the climbers gearing up for their climb. Since their first mile or so on the climb to the summit follow the same well-worn trails that we and many others tourists explored that morning, it was also neat to have them walk past us on their way to many more miles and climbing to reach the icy summit.
We spent the morning wandering the grassy and flowery fields around Rainier, and of course participated in the junior ranger program before calling it a day and driving back down to Seattle.
Here are our photos from our visit to Mt. Rainier:
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