Have Camera, Will Travel.: Mount Rainier

July 2
At 5:00 a.m. we started the day at a forestry camp just east of White Pass. This put us 60 kilometres outside Mount Rainier National Park. All of the nearer campgrounds were full and this mosquito -infested site was all that was left. We had to sleep with the slide-outs kept in to prevent the clouds of mosquitoes from sneaking in through the cracks and getting us.

By 6:00 a.m. we were back in Mount Rainier National Park and navigating around to Sunrise on the northern slopes of the mountain.

We had to push up and through a heavy cloud layer that was shrouding the mountainside.

As we climbed toward Sunrise, we rose above the clouds and pushed through to the sunny day above.

Sunrise Visitor Centre

The visitor centre looked more like a fort from the outside.

The amenities were lost on Sonaa who was more focused on rolling in the dirty snow.

Mountain Bluebird Nest

A Mountain Bluebird nest was built into the attic of the Sunrise Day lodge. The male bluebird had a prominent perch and was keeping intruders away.

Mountain Bluebird

Yellow-pine Chipmunk

This enterprising chipmunk was scurrying under the parked cars then leaping up to the radiators. His efforts were rewarded with a banquet of roasted insects on the exterior of the radiators.

After a hearty porridge breakfast in the RV, we prepared for our hike along the Sourdough Ridge Trail

Sourdough Ridge

Sourdough Ridge Trailhead

The clouds were still shrouding the valley below as we started upward.

Looking behind us we had a great view of Sunrise with Mount Rainier in the background.

Sourdough Ridge Trail

Mount Rainier from Sourdough Ridge

Emma on Sourdough Ridge Trail

View from the Sourdough Trail down into Huckleberry Basin

Once we got to the top of Sourdough Ridge we were able to look down the north side of the slope into Huckleberry Basin.

It was neat being on top of the ridge and being able to see Mount Baker to the South then turn around and see Huckleberry Basin to the North.

Huckleberry Basin

We continued along the ridge line getting gorgeous views of Mount Rainier.

Mount Rainier

On the west slope of Mount Rainier was Little Tahoma Peak.

Little Tahoma Peak

Mount Rainier Summit

For a few hours we walked along Sourdough Ridge. We took our time and enjoyed every minute.

Huckleberry Basin and McNeeley Peak

McNeely Peak

Emma Sourdough Ridge by McNeely Peak

Hoary Marmot

A curious Hoary Marmot was observing hikers as it packed in mouthfuls of vegetation.

We continued up Sourdough Ridge then along Huckleberry Creek Trail

View from Huckleberry Creek Trail

Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon subspecies)

Several juncos were bouncing around the bushes beside the trail

Huckleberry Basin

At the high point of our hike I photographed Emma beside Mount Rainier.

Mount Rainier

Hermit Thrush

As if to mark the occasion a Hermit Thrush was trumpeting his melodious song. For my money, this bird has one of the most beautiful songs in the animal kingdom.