Saturday, June 30, 2007

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Last weekend “the one who must be obeyed” was working so I took myself off on a a short road trip to Mt. Rainier. Been there. Done that. But always fun and I never tire of the scenery. I went down the east side of the mountain and stopped in at Sunrise. At 6,400 feet, it was brutally cold with clouds right down to the visitors’ center. Pretty cool, but I didn’t stay long.

My intent was to pick up 123 where it junctions with 410 and go up to Paradise on the southwest shoulder of the mountain. “Ah, but 123 is closed,” you say, and you would be right. My forgetfulness required a 90 mile detour almost to Yakima before returning via Packwood to the entrance of the park at Ashford. I spent the night at the Gateway Inn, Cabins (and Hamburger Hut).

Next day I spent the morning cruising around the various roads and scenic points. The new visitor center is perhaps half completed. The Inn is being rennovated and except for construction eyesores, the scenery is terrific. The final picture, below, is of the Nisqually River, looking back toward Rainier. The glacier used to come all the way down here a hundred years ago. It had receded by around 1950.

All in all, it was a great little weekend side trip.

Posted by Digital Quixote in • Motorcycles
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