Northwest Trip--Seattle, Cascades, and Mt. Rainier

Northern Cascades, Washington

One of our favorite destinations is Seattle, Washington. There are so many options for car camping. This year, we chose to do a loop from the Northern Cascades to Mt. Rainier. At the end of the week we spent a couple of days in Seattle.


The automatic sensor worked good on my new camera--it detected that it was low light and was still able to take a photo of our camp with my husband reading his Kindle in the tent while I watched the campfire. We camped on the eastern side of the Cascades in Klipchuck campground.


On our way back toward Mt. Rainier, we drank fruit smoothies right in the orchard next to the farm stand. The cherries seem to be the best from Washington this time of year so we ate them the whole time.


Pasque Flower July 8, 2009

Mt. Rainier is known for wildflowers---glacial lillies and the pasque flower bloom right below the snow fields. This insect which I think is a fly--not a bee--was the most common pollinator for the flowers on Mt. Rainier.


This view of Mt. Rainier was from the White River campground where we stayed one night. The river looks white from the glacial runoff.


The first night it rained but the fire kept me warm.


Sunrise Gift Shop at Mt. Rainier National Park

The next morning, we took the hike from the Sunrise Visitor Center, on the west side of Mt. Rainier National Park. This photo looks like it could have been taken in the Swiss Alps.


False Hellebore

I love the pleated leaves of the false hellebore plant.


The panoramic setting of my new camera works by stitching photos together. I am still playing with this function of the Sony Cybershot.



We always visit Pike Place Market while in Seattle and eat lunch on one of the piers nearby. This gull was right outside the restaurant window watching us eat. Afterward, I went outside and fed him and other gulls oyster crackers. No caution about feeding the wildlife here like in the parks!