Day 30: Mount Rainier

We skip a tour of Seaquest State Park and head straight to the 2-hour tour of Mount Rainier. The national park surrounding the mountain was established in 1899 to preserve it for the public. It is 4,392 meters high, nearly as high as Mont Blanc. It is the highest volcano in the Cascade Range and the most heavily glaciated peak in the continental United States. Basalt columns and other relics of ancient volcanic eruptions and lava flows indicate the long history of Mount Rainier. Shortly after entering through the western entrance, we begin a hike through an old-growth forest. The trail is easy and follows alongside a clear mountain river. The highlight is the 1000-year-old trees such as Western redcedar and fir-douglas. It is impressive to see how wide and tall they are. Some of them have fallen over, allowing us to admire their root systems. Here too, we see the circle of life, with the old, large tree lying on the ground and the young sapling growing on top of it. I have never seen anything like it before. There is a suspension bridge to cross the river. It is recommended to cross the bridge individually, but many families go together. We also go together, and when we see a group of about 10 people, we briefly doubt if it will hold. Fortunately, everything stays intact. After an hour and nearly 2 kilometers, we are back at the car. Now, we have an hour drive up to the mountain. We see canyons, waterfalls, pine trees, and part of the mountain. Unfortunately, the summit is covered in clouds. Paradise is a place and, at 1647 meters, the highest point on the mountain that is accessible by car. The visitor center has a small exhibition, and Erik is coloring animals in the Junior Park Ranger book. Now, there is another trail to hike. We choose the 1.2-mile (1.92 km) loop trail. Snow adorns the area, and there is a considerable amount of snow on the chosen path. At times, the trail can only be recognized with the help of snow stakes. We are careful not to slip, as there are uphill and downhill sections. Halfway through the trail, we are rewarded with a view of the Nisqually Glacier. The mountain has year-round glacier ice. Erik is having a lot of fun because about 80% of the trail is covered in snow. After an hour, we reach the visitor center. We complete the remaining task and Erik swears once again to protect the park. It is already 5 PM, and the day passes by so quickly. On the way to the car, we talk to two rangers. They belong to a special unit responsible for mountain rescue and safety. They are friendly and show us their equipment, such as ice axes, mountaineering gear, and police vests. It is very interesting to experience the different roles of rangers. We only drive a short distance to the campground, and it hails and rains along the way. Luckily, when we go hiking, even the sun shines. The campground is located at 920 meters in the forest. We grill hamburgers and retreat to the camper. It is too cold for us.