Rainier in Her Glory

We are camped near Sunrise at the base of Mt Rainier at 4000 ft.  We left near 90 degree weather and am pleasantly surprised at the moderate temperatures here.  It has been in the low 80’s during the day, but needing a sweatshirt at night.

We are camped in the White River Campground at the Eastern base of Mt Rainer.

 

                     Bridge across the river  

Why is the river so white you may ask?

Particles the size and color of plaster are picked up by the water run off from the grinding movement of Emmons Glacier high on Mt Rainier. 

                           

There are many hikes available throughout the park but most of them have great elevation changes so that makes it difficult for me.

My want to, is always lagging behind my can do. 

But we have certainly not been without plenty to do.  

We find many short hikes or begin many longer hikes and hike as far as I am able.  Since my desire is strong to hike I go farther than I probably should and am not getting much argument about returning.  It is all about pacing myself.

This is near the beginning of Wonderland Trail.  6.7 miles long

                         

With all the snow and glaciers still around, there is also plenty of streams to soak your tired feet if only for a second or two.

Every day requires a drive up to Sunrise and again Sunset for the views of course!!

 

                                                                                              Mt Adams from Mt Rainer at Sunrise Vista

Nite Nite!!

That’s all folks for today….. we’re getting up early for sunrise !!

Visiting a Sleeping Giant

Before leaving the Yakima Valley, we stocked up on fruit and vegetables as we will soon be leaving the fruits and vegetable capitol of Central Washington.  We leave behind the vineyards, orchards and farmlands and leaving behind the dry and arid hills.



As we gain in altitude, the hills quickly begin to turn green as we enter forested lands.  The Naches River, carves the landscape leaving room along it's flowing banks for us to enter the now green landscape.



Driving up Chinook Pass we climb higher and higher like Jack up the Beanstock..  Deep ravines drop beside the road into a deep abyss.  Hailey reads her book, as I marvel at the ever changing landscape.


Once we begin the steep incline nearing the pass there are not pull offs to stop and take in the view so I am only able to grab glimpes of the stunning views until we reach a viewpoint near Chinook pass.
Snow capped peaks hint at the spectacular marvel that awaits us beyond the cloak of green.

We stop at one last vista to play in a roadside water fall.

As you climb the mountain pass, all views are of mountains and deep green forest  THE mountain remains hidden from view, beyond your reach and sight. We now see the path to the other side of the mountains. 

 

    
 After the final east side viewpoint we again travel west….this time moving down the other side of the pass.  Around a bend and there it is in all her magesty.

                

   MT Rainier

 The view is so stunning it is difficult to take it all in.  We decide that this is a beautiful place for a lunch stop and the architects of the highway thought so too.  They provided a nice rest area with parking for trailers!

 

 Mt Rainier is not just leaving civilization, it is truly a wilderness.  Leaving behind, lights, grocery stores, gas stations, and swarms of people.  Unlike many other national  parks Rainier is peaceful and full of natural solitude.

 

We found many campsites available and the rangers said the campgrounds are rarely full except on holiday weekends.  The campsites are primitive and due to the extreme winter climate finding a large and level spot is challenging.  Most campers in White River Campground are tenters and they have their pick of campspots.  In our camp loop only 3 of the 15 sites were occupied.

I hope you are not bored with pictures of this magical place….. I just can’t stop taking pictures!! 

THERE WILL BE MORE!!

The Great Summer Getaway

Hailey has been away at camp and I have been getting ready for our Great Summer Getaway. 

We have a vague itinerary to circle Washington State but nothing specific with dates or reservations.  We will be flying by the seat of our pants so to speak which is just the way I like it.  We have plans to  see the great Volcanic Mountains of Rainer, Adams, St Helen's, the Pacific Ocean, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascade Highway and a whole lot in between. 

I picked up Hailey at 9:00 in the morning form camp with every peace of clothing she owned being dirty.  With plans to get her clothes clean and take off.  Certainly a minor calculation error on my part.  I should have taken them to the laundromat as it would have been much faster.  I’ll have to remember that for next time.

 

By the time we were all put together and ready to go it was 4:30.  I knew that if we waited until the next day, time would get away from us again so at 4:30 we headed out to in search of cooler country.  We didn’t get very far…..Just down the road a hundred miles.  I saw that the little farming town town of Odessa had free camping in a city park with shade and restrooms. 

We set up a quick camp and would head out early in the morning without all the distractions of home to get in the way. 

We were parked next to a little beautiful little church with our back door welcoming any heavenly vibes for our upcoming trip through our back door.

Like many little towns, it was buttoned up early and all the businesses were already closed so we walked around the downtown area and found our own entertainment. 

Another church we found in our walk about.  It was filled with stained glass windows which I would have loved to seen with sunlight streaming through.

We found the local school and notice the playground open, so it was off to play a bit ourselves.  It doesn’t matter how old I am, I there is nothing  a swing.  So that is exactly what we did. 

My hip has been giving me  a lot trouble…. but not on the swing so I gave it all I had!    We had a blast!!!

This was the noisiest camp ever since we were near main street and a train track 2 blocks away with trains and whistles through the night.  But we loved the little town and were ready to hit the road early the next morning.

Near Vantage at the Columbia River, we stopped at a viewpoint to look at the river.  Recently, a huge crack was discovered at the Wannapum Dam from a faulty dam design.  A huge water draw down dropped the water level so that repairs could be made to the dam.. I wanted to see how much the draw down of water for repairs had changed the waterline.  

The sandbar in the middle was previously underwater.  

 

The water line mark.  Without a size reference it is difficult to visualize how huge the water drop has been.

As we were traveling across the arid dessert we were able to catch glimpses of our destinations for our Great Summer Getaway.

 

Mt. Rainier

North Cascades…. we will travel on your great highways later….

We are finally on our way….

Let the Great Summer Escape BEGIN!!!

I

Toppenish WA: Where the West Still Lives

Right in South Central Washington is a quaint little town where the West Still Lives. 

It is on the Yakama Indian Reservation and is home to the Yakama Nation Cultural Center and Museum which is one of the largest collections Native American artifacts in the country and is home to a western theme town that has over 70 murals depicting early settlement and culture in the lower Yakima valley.  In addition there are several other museums including the Norther Pacific Railway Museum  , and the American Hop Museum for Beer lovers.  Along with the One Day Mural Paint there are many festivals, rodeos, and powwows in this little town.  Check on the Toppenish Website for a listing of activities and events during a visit to this fun little Western Town. http://www.visittoppenish.com/ 






We were fortunate to visit the day after a massive effort to create a one day paint on a new mural in the park near the Visitor Center.  We met the designers who were touching up the mural before it will be installed on it's new location.


We also collected a wonderful collection of Washington State Travel information at the Toppenish Visitor Center.  I find the staff and Volunteers at information centers to be a wealth of information.

One of my dearest friends lives in a little town nearby so we are always able to driveway camp enjoy the nearby area.  Her daughter joined us for these travels.  As is often the case, people who live nearby don't visit the attractions near their home.

This was her daughters first trip to see the murals.

Since my days as a foster parent for Native American Youth, Toppenish was on our radar as a place to buy authentic Native Made arts and supplies needed for making regalia.  Rose's is one of my favorite spots and we visited it and of course made some purchases here too.  We met years ago when I was making regalia for kiddo's in my care.  She was incredibly encouraging as we helped the children with their cultural activities.

Visit Rose and tell her Karen said Hi!

In Toppenish, the murals are the star of the show.

 

The mural of main street painted the day before our visit.

Hailey is talking with one of the artists while another is signing a book for us about the murals.

I know I shouldn't be buying more 'stuff' but I can't help supporting local artists and community beautification efforts and buy the book about the murals.  I certainly do enjoy learning about the local history and culture and love meeting such interesting people along our travels.

There is a horse-drawn wagon tour that views the murals found around town. The day of the One Day Mural Paint was a busy, busy day so the wagon tour wasn't running the day of our visit.  So with the mural book, and armed with a brochure we set out to see the murals.

Toppenish like many small times had fallen on bad times including declining population and business closures as larger city business lured customers away from the little town.   A group of local citizens had a vision to incorporate  mural paintings and a festival as a way to begin revitalization of their beloved town.  The first mural was painted on a wall in 1989 and by 1999 there were 56 murals.

Some of the murals are showing their age due to years of sun and weather with peeling and blistering paint.  The Toppenish Mural Society now works to fund new murals but also to fund the upkeep on previously painted murals.  They recently sealed with preserver, nearly half of the 70+ murals.  It is wonderful to see that the town understands what a wonderful asset the Western theme incorporating the mural, wood awnings, historic buildings and antique street lamps. 

Obviously, I am not going to post pictures of all the murals as that would make a long, long post and some of my favorite murals were not in their best light due to sun placement .  But I do want to record a flavor of the murals and the quaint little town.

"Western Hospitality" Painted by Betty Jean Billups, one of the artists we met during our visit.

One of my favorite murals, uses the painting to frame an entrance to the building.

The murals vary in size but many are the size of buildings and tell the story of the history and culture incredible detail.

 The lower valley is one of the worlds largest producer of Hops used in the production of beer.

In the heart of Toppenish is the pacific Railway Museum at the old Railroad Station that was also closed the day we were there.   It will definitely be on my radar for a future visit. 

Beside the train station museum is a fenced in rail-yard that will interest historical rail buffs for hours.

We walked and walked until I couldn't walk any more.  Then we drove and viewed more murals.  It is clear there are more murals than I could take in and remember for one visit.  That is OK with me as I intend to visit Toppenish again and again. 
  

Maybe next visit we will take the wagon ride to view the murals.

We stopped in near by Zillah, WA to view a tourist attraction that is advertized on

Road Side America   http://www.roadsideamerica.com/ Your Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions.   This is a fun way to find fun, offbeat attractions in an unfamiliar area.

The Teapot which is now a Zillah gift center was formally a gas station, built in the 1920's and now stands to welcome you to Zillah.
 

 I am always consumed with taking pictures at sunset.  Some are beautiful, others not so much.....

And on some nights there is an added bonus.

  Just before I head in for the night I turn around and this is what I see.

Ice Cream and sunsets and I call it a good night.....however, the girls gabbed late into the night.

~ Happy Trails~