Mt. Rainier, Washington, August 2004

Our first hike was a fairly short trail from the Paradise Visitor Center.

Mt. Rainier and Anne, in all their glory!

As we got higher, we could see Mt. Adams in the background.

Hoary Marmots were fairly common in the mountain meadows.

It didn't take long to get up to the snowfields (in August!). Notice how the snow looks sort of pink from a distance.

A close up look reveals that the pink tones actually come from a type of red algae that live in the snow!

Jeff enjoys the panarama.

Anne wonders where that little mountain went...

One of the many little waterfalls from the snowmelt.

Cascade Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus saturatus) provided much entertainment. During the winter, they hiburnate 3 feet underground and can lower their body temperatures to just a few degrees above freezing!

Jeff and Anne and Mt. Adams

The Mt. Adams panarama from Mt. Rainier

Least Chipmunks begging trail mix at Panarama Point from the Skyline Trail at Mt. Rainier

Groups of climbers train on the snow pack to prepare for the hike to the summit

Anne shows some baby rocks to the momma rocks!

Can you spot the bird in this photo? Anne did!

It's a little easier to see in this pic. Well camoflaged, eh?

Yep, breeding plumaged White-tailed Ptarmigan. I took this shot by hand-holding my digital camera lens to one of the eyepieces of my binoculars!