[Hikingqueen]

Well it's that time of year for my volunteer work at Rainier. Zachster hooked me up with Mount Rainier National Parks Association and I'm on the list for these types of work parties. This was my 3rd one. Last 2 years I did re-vegetation (planting) this year was de-veg (weeding).

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We worked along the Westside road and took out non-native plants such as St. John's Wort, Daisies, and some kind of lettuce, can't remember the full name on that one.

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We filled lots of garbage bags of plants, got a good tan, and yummy treats. It was the best work party yet. We are offered VIP camping at Longmire with hot showers even. So I always jump on that. I had a great spot #25, very quiet.

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Slept with my rain fly off for the first time, how amazing! I can see everything and slept like a baby the first night.

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Friday I arrived and set up camp and did Eagle Peak Saddle trail it's almost 3,000 elevation in 3.6 miles. It was hard for me but I did it and knocked it off my list. No more wondering what it's like.

Busting out of the forest on Eagle Peak Trail 7-9-10

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It's lots of switchbacks at first and then you break out of the forest to some amazing views, then back into the trees a couple of snow patches, then open snow area but it's easy to follow to the last push to saddle. There was evidence of goats, I had goat hair all over me when I got up. After the work party on Saturday Nancy & I did High Rock Lookout. It's 1,400 in 1.5 miles.

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The bugs were annoying and flowers are coming out. The lookout is in need of TLC. I swept the floor and wanted to do windows. We saw Tpayne on the way up, so cool to finally meet him live! He was so sweet to find my sisters backpack years ago in North Cascades and get it back to her. Thanks again Tom!

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Kawisk was also at the work party and camping so he joined us on Sunday as we all headed up to Paradise. We thought we would see how far we could get to Camp Muir. I hadn't been up much past Pan Point so it was all new to me. We went up the Edith Creek way I always take that route cuz there's never any people on it. The other side is a zoo. We saw a fox right away, he had something big in his mouth breakfast I would assume.

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It was a perfect blue sky day not a cloud in site we started around 7:15. Up and up we went stopping for breaks when needed.

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avalanche!

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Views do get better the higher you climb.

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We made it a tiny bit over half way to Muir, I was cool with that. 8,500 feet or so. My personal best. Life is good!

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Ultimately we didn't reach the camp but I was totally cool with that. We made it to around 8,500 feet and headed down for some glissades. Views were fantastic, glissades were so FUN, I caught some serious air and have some snow burn on my legs, it felt like a rug burn. But it was worth the pain!

will on glissade # 8 or something.. god we had fun!

Nancy going down

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We saw lots of wildflowers coming awake and at least 20 marmots today.

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Marmots

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nothing like laying flat out on a hot rock

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This was one of the best weekends I've had all year! Thanks Nancy & Will for sharing in my joy, please add your photos.

[raising3hikers]

Volunteering all day and then doing some hikes, that's making the most out of your time in such a great area. Great pics, esp. #142

[El Puma]

My kids and I enjoy the hiking offered on the trails you work on, so a big Thank You from us for all that the two of you as well as the rest of the volunteers do out there! Cheers!

[the Zachster]

A very fun weekend indeed! Part 1: The Work Party The work parties are always a great mix of work and "partying". Two of the gals had a birthday on Saturday so celebrations were in order...

Here's the pre-party pep talk

And Will, the Park plant specialist (in charge of the Park's Ecological Restoration project) showed us the the stuff we were supposed to seek out and destroy

So off we went to weed Mt. Rainier...

Weed whackers on the move

Lunch time treats and entertainment

Part 2: Hiking High Rock for sunset (almost)

Janelle forgot ( ) to mention that the road to High Rock is a bit of a pain in the butt. It took about an hour to go a bumpy 11 miles. But that's OK...it was all worth it! At the TH Janelle put on bug repellent and offered me some. Silly me said no thanks. BAAAAAD idea. Not too many bites but they entered every opening they could find But that's OK too, 'cause it was all worth it! One of the first great views...ahhhh!

More from the top

And more as the sun was going down

hikingqueen , High Rock and alpenglow

hikingqueen and alpenglow

Part 3: Hiking above Paradise Even though we didn't manage to wake up for the sunrise as planned (eh, it was cloudy anyway...) we got a nice early start (7AM) and saw virtually nobody for at least a couple of hours. Not a cloud in the sky to start. Light breeze. Great company.

I get happy just looking at these pictures all over again, it was such a great day to be at The Mountain!

Here's one of my personal favorites...

You go hike...I'm chillin'!

As Janelle said, the glissades were great...some really short and steep... Note: if I ever figure out how to post videos I'll do so, although some may need to be edited for language

And of course the marmots. I swear they bring them in just for the tourists and photographers!

Oh no...more tourists...

Marmot hangover Part 1

Marmot hangover Part 2

These little guys were a treat. As we waited outside of the hole, they eventually came out to see us. Not particularly afraid unless we moved quickly. So cute!

Me and Rainier in a marmot's eye

Thanks again to Janelle and Will for a really fun trip!

[Hikingqueen]

Nancy you got some great shots! Could my mouth be any wider while I was screaming on the way down that shoot? And amazing shot in the marmot eye! Dang your good!

[seawallrunner]

thank you for volunteering !!! fresh air, good people, good food and good for the environemt - what's not to love? Your photos are magical - both of you. I love the photos of the forest lookout in the setting sun, what great colour, what superb ambiance. And the sleeping marmots? Priceless !!! Congrats on a fantastic trip, thank you for sharing it with the rest of us

[TPayne]

Nice meeting you Hikingqueen and The Zachster! I was hoping you'd get a great sunset, looked nice as I was driving into Yelm. I'm already planning a return trip to the Lookout for a sunset, stars and sunrise adventure! Thanks for your work at Mt Rainier!

[silly_traveler]

Good times and fun pics ladies! What a great way to spend a weekend, and thanks for all your hard work!

[kawisk]

yesterday even made today good. the glissades were the funnest! thanks to both of you for bringing me along.

[Bloated Chipmunk]

[Popcorn]

Fred, the marmot's photo model. Fred poses--on demand--just about everywhere in the State of Washington., from June through October.

[Snowdog]

Good work girls! two of my favorite activities: trail maintenance & hiking. You both outdid yourselves with photos - esp. loved the marmot's eye reflection.

[Yet]

This photo speaks to me! Too much fun in this TR, it should be illegal.

[Tigerotor77W]

Awesome. Thanks for doing this, even if you did enjoy yourself while beautifying the park! This would be so much more rewarding (spiritually) than my actual work... though only one of them currently pays the bills. Maybe next vacation I'll do a volunteer trip to Rainier.

[the Zachster]

First weekend in August there's another MRNPA work party...they will be working on the Glacier Basin trail re-route. The work is on Saturday but there's a cookout Saturday night and many folks will stay (free) at the campground and hike on Sunday. PM me if you need contact info to sign up!