Snowshoeing Paradise, Mount Rainier
(Photos below)
December 11, 2005
We finally had a chance to escape from the madness that had attended moving into our new house, unpacking, buying furniture, and attempting to address the first round of house fixes. It had been much too long away from the mountains when we finally found an obliging Sunday for an easy snowshoe tramp from Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier.
We were joined by our friends Matt and Leah who proved to be excellent snowshoe companions. The day was almost ridiculously warm--upper 50's probably--and brillantly sunny so that from Mazama Ridge we had a clear view of the Tatoosh Range as well as Mount Adams and Mount Saint Helens. None of us were too keen on a blistering pace so we tromped up toward the Paradise Glacier and then proceeded to take a long leisurely break for lunch (and sledding). Then we descended, traversed above Paradise toward Panorama Point and finally made an early and steep descent back to the car, all the while reveling in what felt like a summer day in December.
Jill pauses to revel in the warmth of a sunny December afternoon.
A zoomed-in shot of the Nisqually Glacier ice fall.
Matt and Leah pause for a little mid-snowshoe gear sorting.
What could be better than lounging in the sun during a long lunch break?
Another party of snowshoers traverses the valley below us with the Tatoosh Range and Mount Saint Helens behind them.
Jill captures her shadow as she photographs a meltwater creek and Little Tahoma in the background.
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