July 10 - 17, 2016 WA National Parks - Mount Rainier and Olympic Coast

July 10 - 17, 2016 WA National Parks - Mount Rainier and Olympic Coast
 (photos to come!)

I met up with Ricardo and the boys at the Seattle airport and from there we went to Vashon Island for 24 hours with Shirley and the Vashon gang. David was visiting also, so we got to share a few meals with him for the first time in about 10 years. Typical Seattle area weather; it poured with rain for our meal outside. 

From there, we drove up to Mount Rainier. It was also like seeing an old friend after many years. It was so calming to see and feel that it hadn’t changed after all these years. Paradise Lodge had a new coat of paint, but was the same as the last time Alle and I had stayed there a few years ago and from when we used to stay there every summer.



We checked into one of the painfully simple rooms and went for a short hike to Myrtle Falls.

The next day, the boys and I and Ricardo on his hiking sticks hiked around Reflection Lake and up to a great look-out. There wasn’t much sunlight, but some great views.

Our favorite hike to Panorama Point was mostly closed due to snow still being on the trials, but the next day, we hiked up to Alta Vista, half way up anyway and had some great views in the sunshine. Mount Rainier came in and out of the clouds for us whenever it wanted to.

From Rainier, we drove most of a day out to the coast, the Olympic National Park. It is remote enough that there were not many people there and time moves more slowly. There was no wifi, no internet and not even much phone connectivity. We rented a small cabin at Kalaloch Lodge near one of the longest Pacific beaches on the west coast and stayed there for about four days.

While there, we explored the various beaches.

We went inland to the rainforests.

We ate at the beautiful old lodges.

While we were at Mt Rainier and Olympic, the boys completed their Junior Ranger programs and got badges at the various ranger stations.



We also have passports we got stamped at the various National Park Visitor Centers we found along the way. What a great way to celebrate this Centennial year! We drove out via Hurricane Ridge and the northern edge of the Mount Olympus. It is always in clouds when I am there and this visit was no exception.

The boys and I flew home after two weeks at the Washington national parks and Ricardo stayed for another two weeks.