My trip to the 7000' mark of Mt. Rainier
 

My girlfriend and I were bored today so...................

We decided to drive to Mt. Rainier

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...1_DSCN1537.jpg

They call that the box canyon and that is the Cowlitz river down there and according to the sign on the bridge it's 160' to the water........

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...9_DSCN1540.jpg

AWESOME!

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...8_DSCN1548.jpg

If she only knew what I had up my sleeve.........

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...5_DSCN1553.jpg

This is the Paradise Lodge and it is the last time you will see it so close.....

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...3_DSCN1556.jpg

Up we go.

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...0_DSCN1557.jpg

We couldn't believe how green and beautiful it was up there.

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...5_DSCN1560.jpg

Panorama Pt. .09 miles to go after the 2 miles we already hiked.....note the elevation, 6400'.

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...1_DSCN1564.jpg

Ya we're comin' for ya!

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...9_DSCN1566.jpg

Can you see the people at the bottom of the picture in the snow? How's that for some scale?

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...3_DSCN1569.jpg

FINALLY! Can you see the Lodge? The view was amazing from here but the camera just doesn't capture the scale of what we saw. You could see Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens form here.

http://pics.montypics.com/bhankes/20...6_DSCN1573.jpg

Redrum! Redrum!

(I'll assume everyone here gets the reference...)



And cool trip. Nice and clear from the looks of it.

Awesome pics, looks like it was really nice up there.

Mountains are good! Looks like a great day for a hike and I bet you were glad you got bored! Thanks for sharing.

awesome pics. i hiked that many years ago, 13 years ago maybe. beautiful up there. tuesday im going to go hiking up on white pass, and then the 28th and 29th will be climbing and camping on mt. adams. last weekend we went to mt. st. helens. its been a wonderful past couple of weeks for hiking the mountains in the northwest, hoping the weather stays the same.

Mountains are good! It was a great day for a hike and after we were done my girlfriend thanked me for the experience. She was ready to turn around after the first 100 yards but after some words of inspiration she made it the whole way. After the first 20 minutes of your legs burning and lungs stretching you're good to go. I don’t do much hiking but when you have the opportunity to walk on such a powerful mountain, you do it.

Hey Benford,
Nice pics man.
I have always wanted to hike that bit of trail.

Hello Victoria!

Mike