John (Tigermn) and I decided to brave the weekend crowds to see Paradise at peak flower bloom season. First time for me to go to Paradise other than in Fall or Winter. We were not alone. Cast of thousands.
Parking at Reflection lake was great idea, to avoid the crowds of the main parking lot. Which were parked well past the hairpin curve below the main parking lot.
2012 Impreza at Reflection lake.
10 + miles (GPS glitch. approx)
3148 feet climbing
7069 feet high point
7.5 hours car to car with a long lunch.
10 + miles (GPS glitch. approx)
3148 feet climbing
7069 feet high point
7.5 hours car to car with a long lunch.
We drove The Fun Car, my wife's new Impreza(36.9mpg this trip), but gotta say this guy was travelling even more efficiently.
Trvelling light.
Best flowers were on Deadhorse trail just above the overflow parking lot,
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
and on the Lakes trail on the way back down to Reflection lake.
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
Last time I did this loop in the Fall, I never saw The Mountain due to clouds. So it was a treat to actually see the mountain for a change.
At lunch we watched the stream of people going up to camp Muir. It was an unrelenting and unbroken line of people looking like ants at a picnic.
Panorama point
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
You had to just get into people watching, or the crowds might get to you. At lunch I volunteered to take a bunch of people's pictures with their cameras. It was fun checking out all the cameras. I should have charged and could have paid for gas. haha.
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
Ants a marchin Muir snowfield
MRNP Reflection lak-Paradise loop 8/25/12
A mellow day and cool to see Rainier on a clear day at any time, and very cool to see Paradise covered with blossoms for a change.
And we tossed in the Nisqually glacier loop, which is a nice detour.
No bugs and temps were perfect.
Flowers will likely be going fast.
10+ miles RT (approx, GPS was fritzing out again)
3148 feet of climbing
7069 feet high point
7.5 hours car to car with a very long and relaxing lunch.
Awesome! I've been monitoring the weather in Seattle for the past two months or so and of the six weeks I've taken a screenshot of the forecast for a given week, in no week has the weather in Charleston forecast been better than that of Seattle. Pretty incredible.
Question for you, boot up -- for sunset pictures from the Mazama Ridge area, would you recommend hiking up from Reflection Lakes or parking at Paradise and hiking up from Fourth Crossing?
I've only been to Mazama Ridge in the winter and have no idea which route would be easier in the dark...
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