Hello. Sometimes on a trip things just work. The weather. The hiking. The campsite. And the company. We just spent 5 glorious days in Mt. Rainier National Park, and let me begin by saying, the mountain does not always present herself to her admirer’s. But not this trip because from day one she looked down on us each day. The hiking was sublime, if not treacherous in spots (as my photo journal highlighting each hike below will demonstrate). Our campsite felt isolated, as if we had hiked miles to a spot within tall hemlocks. And lastly, the company. We met my second cousin David and his daughter Mariah who hail from Lady Smith, B.C. for this portion of the trip. As I explained to Henna one night, this was only made possible becuase it was our good fortune 13 years ago that we knocked on Davids mom’s (Lou) door which opened a wonderful relationship with far away and previously unknown cousins. I may not have grown up with David, but I can now say he feels like a brother to me. Mariah and Henna, who are two weeks apart in age, became fast life long friends. And Noel and David must have talked hours about everything. Along our hikes, David shared his love and knowledge of this earth and nature with us, showing me things I would have surely walked right by, but instead saw in a different way. I thank him for that. Mariah and Henna made, “nature food” for us each night, after proving to be awesome hikers during the day. What a joy Mariah was. David’s mom, Lou, recently passed away this year, leaving a hole in many people’s lives. Lou, was a wonderful spirit, and was known by most everyone in Lady Smith. She will be missed by so many, but as good people often do, she has left a spark in all who knew her. I know that during my days in Mt. Rainier I carried her along with me, and as David said, it was her doing that the mountain was out during our stay, shining brightly, beautifully just as I will always remember her.

Hike #5 Sunrise Nature Trail: 2 miles

Although a nature trail, it was a glorious first climb up to capture views of the mountain while in the snow.

Hike #6 Mount Fremont Fire Tower Trail: 6 Miles

This trail almost sent me back to lower places. We crossed snow covered rock scree that could have sent us into oblivion. The views from the fire tower were marvelous and well worth the any fear.

Hike #7 Glacier Basin Trail: 7 miles

This hike took us to great shots of a glacier and the glacier basin campground that leads to the climb up Mt. Rainier.

Hike #8 Paradise Nature Trail: 2 miles

The last glimpses of the mountain this day were streaked with coming clouds. This trail went straight up through the remains of winter snow.

Fare thee well. Corey