Mount Rainier

Plans are made for changing… we originally planned to route through Spokane to begin traveling north towards Canada.  

Mountains beckoned, however, and we decided to travel up the east side of the Mount Rainier National Park.  We have been staying at the Lodge Pole Campground, just south of Chinook Pass.

This area received a record amount of snow during the winter.  A significant amount still surrounds us.  The mountains all have a substantial dusting of snow.  Areas of shade have more than six foot of snow pack along the roadside.  Spring flowers are just now beginning to emerge. 

We spent three nights at Lodge Pole, traveling Mount Ranier’s uppermost highways and hiking its old growth forests. 

We made new friends with a group from Washington’s tri-state area.  These special folks were kind enough to invite us to a fabulous dinner at their site.  After eating backpacking meals for over a week, it was as if we were in gourmet chef’s heaven!

We even had the opportunity to test our Zodi instant hot water shower.  Using snow melt out of the American River, we are happy to report that both of us were able to get squeaky clean in water temperatures rivaling those at home.

Tomorrow we head for the Olympic National Forest.  Hopefully, we will be able to find internet service somewhere along the way so that we can actually upload these blogs!