Mount Rainier National P- 9.13-15.26

9.13.26, Sunday-

Left for Mt. Rainier NP. Sunday am 8:30ish. Overall a very fun weekend. The weather wasn’t good for stargazing , but we did other things that kept us busy the whole time. Stayed at Cougar Rock Camp, site A26. This was a ADA site and bathroom was right across from our site. The ranger only required that we would say we needed it. Weather was cloudy, cold and drizzle. We headed up to Paradise to find indoor activities. Attended Ranger Joey’s 45 minute Night Sky presentation and then up stairs to the museum. Got our National Park stamp. Headed back down to the campground to settle in and cook dinner. Menu was chili, fresh pepper, apple sauce. Because of the rain we put out the awning and cooked under it. That actually worked out very well. Had to trouble with awing legs in putting it away. Finally got it up. Will extend and dry it when home. Also workout the leg closure issues. After dinner walked across the road to check out the Carter Falthels trail head. We walked the Wonderland Trail for a bit. Then headed back to the van to watch an Outerbanks episode that Barb had down loaded. Heater kept us warm and I had a good night of sleep.

9.14.26, Monday-

Got up to a cold , cloudy morning. Ate oatmeal and blueberries in the van. On the way back up to Paradise stopped at Christiine Falls right next to the road. Parking is across the bridge and a short walk down to the view of the falls.

Next stop was Narada Falls. Large parking lot. We had lunch here. Bathrooms. The Falls is 167 foot drop with a .3 mile walk to the bottom to get good views and pics. This was a good stop with a nice water fall. We ended up talking to a Tour Guide after he dropped off his group to see the falls. He was a great resource to us. He was about 6’ 5”, bushy red beard and hair. He also recommended Silver Falls more toward the Sunrise area.

Stopped at a large view point and look down into the Narada Falls area. Met a couple from Des Moines, IA. She was a birdwatcher and he was a retired IT guy. We saw them several times along the way. Got to the Paradise parking lot and noticed a car that parked too far on the shoulder and had slid down into a culvert area that would need a tow to get out. We continued driving the one way road around the loop toward Reflection Lakes. Saw on deer. Made it to Reflection Lakes, location of some iconic picts of the Mountain in the lake. Also a good stargazing area. Interestingly enough we talked with a guy from Switzerland- Zurich. He of course knew Wengen and we talked for 20 minutes or so.

Left Reflection Lakes and headed back to Paradise. We ended up parking in the lower lot and walked the Nisqually Vista trail, but it was so foggy never saw the glacier. We did see a couple deer up close. Now time to head for the Lodge. Found two comfortable leather chairs, fireplace crackling and we relaxed. I worked on my journal and Barb read her book, very pleasant.

Weather was still cloudy, cold not raining. We decided to take one last hike on a paved trail to Myrtle Falls. It was rated easy- I don’t think so. It was paved and steep most of the way!! At one point my heart rate was 140. The Falls was ok.

Headed back to Cougar Rock for dinner. I little dryer this night. After dinner went for a campground walk and ran in to a Germany couple with a 1 year old. The woman was very concerned after seeing a bear on one of the trails - with one car left in the lot. We tried helping them find a numberor to call at Ranger Station. They lived in Berlin, but now are in Chicago. We ran into them two or three more times. Back to the van for another episode of Outer Banks. Finally bed. ( Also talked with our neighbor about his van. He was excited to share it. Christian and Lindsy. Christian a Charter Captain from Virgin Is. And Lindsy from Philadelphia. We will meet them again and tomorrow on the Carter Falls hike and talk on the trail for 20 minutes.)

9.15.26, Tuesday-

A nicer morning, no rain. This morning I ate outside in one of our chairs and had tea. The pesky jays very quickly joined me and were a bit of a bother. Carter Falls, lunch at the CR picnic area, on to Longmire, saw Berlin again, went into the the Wilderness Permits NP station, then to the museum across the street, after we talked with some Wonderland Trail thru hikers eating. On the road home. Left by 5:30 for dinner at Taco Time, then to Usher orientation.