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Yesterday I decided to take LOML and kids for a drive with the hope of taking a scenic route to where we could take pictures of Mt. Tahoma. (a.k.a. Mt. Rainer) We left town on a two lane county road that soon turned to gravel that should, if the map was correct, allow us to drive most the way on dirt/ gravel roads. About 12 miles outside of town we saw a couple of mule deer. About a half mile farther down the road Rebecca spotted three deer that I missed. I stopped the car, backed up and took a few pics. One small buck and two does. After about 30 miles and after a few required turns we came to the end of a County road to a sign that said Private No Trespassing. So we had to go a bit east before we could once again go south then west; drats
Finally we were on SR 410 going west. As we traveled closer and closer to the summit of Washington's Chinook Pass the clouds became darker. That darn weather doppler radar that I viewed online was way wrong! At one point I even had to turn on the wipers. Imagine if you will having to run the wipers while driving on a state hiway in Washington. I'll admit that's not really much of a stretch of the imagination, but we were on the dry side of the rock. We arrived at the summit rest stop which was only partially open due to snow, yup, snow on July 4th! We ain't talking just a little bit of snow here neither. Several feet of snow. I have pictures to prove it:
Exhibit A:
I have no idea who the people are in this pic. It would have been us playing in the snow but since we live in the desert, well comparativly speaking, a farmed valley thanks to irrigation, anyhow you get the idea.... We all were wearing summer attire and the outside temp was 50°F. I had along a couple of jackets just in case but we did not have spare clothes or a jacket for Thomas so we did not play although it looked like fun.
We proceeded over the summit hoping for a miraculous parting of the clouds but it did not happen. Traveled a few miles into Mt. Rainer National Park passing a couple of lakes that still has snow topped ice, one mostly and the other partially covered. We turned around and headed back since LOML's boss had invited us over for a BBQ. Upon cresting the summit Thomas became car sick. Rebecca freaked out which upset Thomas even more. The clouds seemed to thin and lighten to the east so I was able, after helping LOML of course, to take a few more pictures. Looking down the American River valley, which is the valley that SR410 follows. I also took the following picture of a peak of one of the mountians next to the hiway.
Backing up in my tale a bit, as we neared the summit heading west we passed a scenic view. Since I saw it as we were passing and I was traveling at the 50 mph speed limit I said to LOML "we'll have to stop and check this out on our way home." We remembered, I know that might shock ya'll.
The viewpoint just happened to be of Fife's Peak named after Jim Fife a pioneer that also happened to live, back then, at Goose Prairie Wa and donated his place to the Boy Scouts of America which became Camp Fife. Fife's Peak is a volcano low profile caldera, or the core of a volcano that remains after the rest disappears. Unfortunately none of the pictures of Fife's Peak turned out, mostly too dark. I did however take this following picture of a flower, the type of which I have not a clue. It is growing up through a 7' foot douglas fir.
You might be wondering about now how on earth I could have named this topic disappointment. I'll admit we had a wonderful drive. We saw a plethora of beautiful sights. We had a safe trip. I have pictures that will spur memories for years to come. Alas the only real disappointment is the main reason for this journey was to be able to take one of those perfect close up shots of the eastern face of Mt. Tahoma so as to be able to post it on this forum so that ya'll that live on the flat lands can enjoy. Suffice it to say you'll just have to wait until the next time. Hopefully todays pictures will bring enjoyment to ya'll. It was a splendid time taking them. We are so blessed to be able to live free in paradise!
Finally we were on SR 410 going west. As we traveled closer and closer to the summit of Washington's Chinook Pass the clouds became darker. That darn weather doppler radar that I viewed online was way wrong!
At one point I even had to turn on the wipers. Imagine if you will having to run the wipers while driving on a state hiway in Washington. I'll admit that's not really much of a stretch of the imagination, but we were on the dry side of the rock. We arrived at the summit rest stop which was only partially open due to snow, yup, snow on July 4th! We ain't talking just a little bit of snow here neither. Several feet of snow. I have pictures to prove it:Exhibit A:
I have no idea who the people are in this pic. It would have been us playing in the snow but since we live in the desert, well comparativly speaking, a farmed valley thanks to irrigation, anyhow you get the idea.... We all were wearing summer attire and the outside temp was 50°F. I had along a couple of jackets just in case but we did not have spare clothes or a jacket for Thomas so we did not play although it looked like fun.
We proceeded over the summit hoping for a miraculous parting of the clouds but it did not happen. Traveled a few miles into Mt. Rainer National Park passing a couple of lakes that still has snow topped ice, one mostly and the other partially covered. We turned around and headed back since LOML's boss had invited us over for a BBQ. Upon cresting the summit Thomas became car sick. Rebecca freaked out which upset Thomas even more. The clouds seemed to thin and lighten to the east so I was able, after helping LOML of course, to take a few more pictures. Looking down the American River valley, which is the valley that SR410 follows. I also took the following picture of a peak of one of the mountians next to the hiway.
Backing up in my tale a bit, as we neared the summit heading west we passed a scenic view. Since I saw it as we were passing and I was traveling at the 50 mph speed limit I said to LOML "we'll have to stop and check this out on our way home." We remembered, I know that might shock ya'll.
The viewpoint just happened to be of Fife's Peak named after Jim Fife a pioneer that also happened to live, back then, at Goose Prairie Wa and donated his place to the Boy Scouts of America which became Camp Fife. Fife's Peak is a volcano low profile caldera, or the core of a volcano that remains after the rest disappears. Unfortunately none of the pictures of Fife's Peak turned out, mostly too dark. I did however take this following picture of a flower, the type of which I have not a clue. It is growing up through a 7' foot douglas fir. You might be wondering about now how on earth I could have named this topic disappointment. I'll admit we had a wonderful drive. We saw a plethora of beautiful sights. We had a safe trip. I have pictures that will spur memories for years to come. Alas the only real disappointment is the main reason for this journey was to be able to take one of those perfect close up shots of the eastern face of Mt. Tahoma so as to be able to post it on this forum so that ya'll that live on the flat lands can enjoy. Suffice it to say you'll just have to wait until the next time. Hopefully todays pictures will bring enjoyment to ya'll. It was a splendid time taking them. We are so blessed to be able to live free in paradise!
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