Mount Rainier

We decide to drive around Mount Rainier in a clockwise direction as Peter has been to the park before and knows we'll get the best view of the volcano.  We start our approach from the backside along the White River.

Just inside the Park

The river looks milky from ash and glacier milt

Around every bend in the road we start anticipating our first glimpse of the mountain as we know we are getting close, but the trees are too tall and thick to be able to see it. Then all at once it appears before us as if by magic. A little up the road, we find a clear view where an avalanche passed through last winter flattening the trees.

First view though the tree tops

From the top of an avalanche site

We take the road to Paradise and climb up so far we see patches of snow on the ground.  Yes - even in August.  Apparently it was a heavy snow year.

Snow in August

Photo opt

Wow - now that's a panorama

The views keep getting better and better - it's hard for either one of us to stop taking pictures.
We stop at a waterfall and dogs let us know they've had enough.
So we decide against going all the way to Paradise and head down the mountain back towards Olympia.

View toward Puget Sound

Peak w snow

Old touring bus @ Logmire Museum

On the way down we past the Osceola Mudflow (mud and hot ash mixed with melted snow, fallen trees and boulders) caused by a major eruption over 5000 years ago in which the summit and northeast face of Mount Rainier fell away in a massive landslide that rushed down the slopes all the way to Puget Sound covering the White River Valley with 600' of debris. Now with more populated areas surrounding Puget Sound, there is much concern about another such eruption. I for one would hate to be in its path and glad to be living in California with just earthquakes and fires.

Osceola Mudflow

Looks destructive close up