Camping In-Laws @ Mt Rainier

A couple of weeks ago I went to Puyallup to visit with family there. One of Gail's cousins came up from California for a visit. We had a good time at a BBQ dinner with all the family in the area. The next day I went up to Mt Rainier to do some camping. Gary and Martha are volunteers there and since they were scheduled to work the weekend, I though it would be a good time to go and harass them.

That first evening I went up to Sunrise to take some evening pictures.

The next day, Gary and Martha came up with their trailer. Jim and Donna also came up with Donna's sister Pat to do a day hike with us.

We hiked up to Glacier Basin. Along the way there was this nice little waterfall alongside the trail. We all had to stop and relish in the cool moist air.

The trail goes up the White River, which has experienced some wild weather the last few years. Much of the trail has been washed out. The park service is now in the process of relocating the trail to higher ground.

Here are my two Brother-In-Laws, Jim and Gary.

This is the family shot for Mom's calender.
We make a pretty good looking family if I do say so myself.

The next day, I followed Gary and Martha some on their rounds.
Here they are on their way to Berkely Meadows.

Gary and Martha volunteer at an area of the Mt Rainier National Park called Sunrise.
This is the view of the mountain they get to look at while on duty. Not a bad gig.
Gary's daughter and her family came up, along with a friend of hers and spent the weekend camping with us. Somehow I missed getting a picture of them.

One day I took my little motorcycle around to the other side of the mountain to Paradise. The new visitors center was opened just a few weeks earlier.

The inside was nice, but no quite what I had expected given all the hype it was getting.
I was a little disappointed. I think they could have done a better job.

I then rode the motorcycle down the Steven's Canyon Road as far as I could. It was closed due to a large washout. I just read in the paper where it might open this weekend. This is probably the most photographed view of the mountain. When the water is calm, the mountain's reflection in the lake is stunning. Hence the name, Reflection Lake.

On Monday, Jim joined me for a hike around Naches Peak. I think this is one of the best alpine hikes around. We were there just as the flowers were starting to bloom.