Mazama Ridge - 12.13.2017
We parked (5430') at the Paradise Inn in Mt. Rainier National Park... which offers a pretty nice view of the mountain... our snowshoe trip was 5.1 miles roundtrip, gaining 1440 feet of elevation.
|
Leaving the Paradise parking lot and heading downhill on the Paradise Valley Road... Mazama Ridge is in the distance.
|
After hiking the Paradise Valley Road for a half-mile or so the road crosses the Paradise River (~5240')... this is where we left the road and headed uphill toward Mazama Ridge.
|
Gaining elevation up to Mazama Ridge on an obvious path.
|
Every step higher offers a better view of Mount Rainier.
|
On Mazama Ridge... heading in the direction of Little Tahoma on the right.
|
Looking down on the Paradise River as it carves its way down from the Paradise Glacier... we are heading for the small mound in the center of the photo.
|
Barb is walking along the Paradise River... while Rodney and Tom are getting ready to climb up to our high point.
|
Nearing our high point.
|
Lunch at our high point (~6380').
|
Looking south from our lunch spot to part of the Tatoosh Range... Stevens Peak on the far left... Unicorn, West Unicorn and Foss (left center)... with Castle, Pinnacle and Plummer on the right... Adams is left of Unicorn on the horizon.
|
Group selfie... me in front... with Barb, Rodney and Tom behind.
|
Continuing on toward the mountain from our lunch spot.
|
A closeup of Little Tahoma.
|
Barb adds a rock to this little monument.
|
Heading south now... on our way back to the car... looking beyond the Tatoosh Range to Mt. Adams on the left and Mt. St. Helens on the right.
|
Looking back at Mt. Rainier and Little Tahoma.
|
Heading down from our high point... Mt. Adams on the horizon in the center of the photo... part of Goat Rocks on the horizon on the extreme far left... Stevens Peak in the left foreground... Unicorn, West Unicorn and Foss in the right foreground.
|
It looks like Barb is heading for Mt. St. Helens on the horizon.
|
Castle Peak, Pinnacle Peak and Plummer Peak on the left... with St. Helens on the horizon.
|
Looking back.
|
The Paradise River is getting ready to plunge down Sluiskan Falls into Paradise Valley... Castle, Pinnacle and Plummer in the distance.
|
What a view!!
|
Heading back down Mazama Ridge.
|
Getting ready to leave Mazama Ridge and head down to the Paradise Valley Road.
|
Heading down to the road... the Paradise Inn is in the center of the photo.
|
Almost down to the Paradise Valley Road.
|
On the Paradise Valley Road... which will take us back up to the parking lot.
|
Time to pack up and get out of Dodge.
|
On our drive home we stopped at Dogwood Park in Eatonville... and got this look at Rainier.
|
