[Don]

The Tahoma Creek trail offers no difficulties worth mentioning, other than route-finding in a couple of places after dark is a bit challenging - go figure! The flowers are just as intense as at Paradise. Truly a spectacular year. Lupine is the dominating flower, but also lots of aster, paintbrush, heather, etc. After witnessing sunset on the mountain, I saw a blonde bear while traversing the Mirror Lake trail. Blonde with black ears, in fact. I have never seen a two-toned bear before. It was such a small cub that I innitially thought it was a fox (it was considerably down slope in a tall flower meadow and it was dusk). It wasn't until it took a few steps that it's identity became clear. It startled quickly and bounded off for mother, whom I could barely see several hundred yards away in the dim light. Mosquitos are very bad right now in the meadows (none along the trail hiking in). I could almost hear them snickering at the sight of me applying my Cutters (pronounced hiker marinade) - it was basically useless. FYI - Mid-day Sunday saw a 1-mile line (30 plus minute wait) at the Nisqually Entrance to enter the park, apparently due to the flower reports in several major newspapers. The previous day was spent photographing in Paradise Meadows and along The Lakes trail, where I ran into friend and mentor John Shaw - a special treat indeed. Pics may follow tonight if I have time. Finally, I met two wonderful people from this forum while hiking up the trail who were treating their 6 month-old daughter to the incredible alpine scenery. It was a real pleasure to finally meet up and talk with them. Don

Rainier Reflection sunset

Rainier above meadows

Rainier Reflection

Rainier above meadows 2

Rainier Reflection 2

[Trevor]

As expected, well executed images Don! The good photographers seem to always converge at paradise.

[Tazz]

great images Don. Thanks for posting them

[ActionBetty]

those skeeters are being well fed this year. great pics!

[Don]

Thanks guys! The area is just incredible right now. I'm heading back up tonight to shoot in the morning before heading over to the Dose for an extended trip. I suspect anyone interested will have another good weekend yet to visit the park. It's certainly worth the drive. Anything in the 5,000' vicinity in the park is absolutely brilliant right now.

[David¹]

Great shots Don, you sure know how to pick a great hike!

[Jeff R]

Great pictures! So...do you think the skeeters out numbered the flowers or the other way around?

[wildernessed]

Stunning, the pics I see on this board are great. I can't believe the crap they are pushing at the visitor centers.