Mt. Rainier and alpine wildfowers
Indian paintbrush share most of the alpine meadows with the lupine. Here, the flower with all of the funny and irreverent nicknames, claim part of the foreground with the ubiquitous lupine. The small white flower on a stem is a bistort.
Poor mountain anemone (a.k.a. mouse on a stick; dish mop; old man of the mountains; tow-head baby; windflower, pasqueflower). Pasqueflower comes from the French word for Easter, since the anemone blooms early in spring. Anemone and lupine are favorite food of the Pika.
Sunday evening I had taken a nice hike up the Paradise glacier trail.
Monday morning I returned to the park for some more sight seeing and
short hikes. These photos are from that Monday morning visit to the
park (3 Aug 09).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Photos from an evening (8.2.09) and a morning (8.3.09) spent in Mt.
Rainier National Park on the Paradise side, enjoying the wildflowers,
wildlife, and scenery - - while trying to dodge the heat, mosquitoes,
and crowds. The mosquitoes got me - - even well covered with bug
spray.
I hiked up to Sluiskin Falls in the evening of the 2nd and then took the Paradise glacier trail from the “Stevens Van Trump” trail “T”. I hike a mile along the trail and cross country on the ridge rim. With the exception of marmot and deer, I had that entire area to myself (evening winds kept the mosquitoes at a distance). Once back down along the Skyline section of trail, there were people everywhere. I arrived at my pickup truck, parked along the Paradise River, at dark.
I returned to the same area of the park early the next morning (Monday). Less people but the mosquitoes were “open for business” early. Still I enjoyed visiting many of my favorite places in the area, taking photos, and a few short hikes. These photographs are from the evening and the early morning visits to the park.
Comments and faves
sawtoothphoto (34 months ago | reply)
just beautiful, amazing country for sure....can't imagine a more impressive backdrop to a pretty floral display
mousenana2002... added this photo to her favorites. (34 months ago)
mousenana2002... (34 months ago | reply)
Wow...what a stunning shot especially with all the gorgeous wildflowers. Superb shot.
I love your photo!
Please add your environmentally conscious photo to !!! Flickr Green !!!
Janice L (34 months ago | reply)
Skeeters are notorious this year. I love tow-headed babies!
greenwoman46 (34 months ago | reply)
My gosh this is gorgeous!! Makes me hungry for high country - not sure if I'll make it this year, but I'm hoping...
jimgspokane (34 months ago | reply)
This is lovely!
oldmantravels (34 months ago | reply)
Flickr friends all - - please forgive this "multiple" thank you, but since I feel I know you all: Fred, Janene, Janice, Alexa, & Jim - - thank you all and each and every one of you. Makes me feel good to have folks like you dropping by my "home photo albums". OMT
Coop Photography added this photo to his favorites. (34 months ago)
LAP75 (34 months ago | reply)
Hey, this is just awesome, well done!!!
oldmantravels (34 months ago | reply)
Thanks LAP75 - - I like to include my friends the mountain pasqueflowers in my photos, whenever possible. They are a great "supporting cast". OMT
tgstewart1 (34 months ago | reply)
It's been a long time since I have been in the Ranier Park. These bring back fond memories! It looks like you had a fantastic time as well as getting some outstanding images!!
Steve_Gregory (34 months ago | reply)
perfect perspective. Awesome shot!
oldmantravels (34 months ago | reply)
TG & Steve - - thank you both. Though the wildflowers (and mosquitoes), are at their peak right now, September and October are my two favorite months in the park. OMT
V.H.S. added this photo to their favorites. (34 months ago)
ikonoki (34 months ago | reply)
Great capture! I like the framing and perspective.
oldmantravels (34 months ago | reply)
ikonoki - - thanks for the positive feedback on this photo. It is appreciated. OMT
velotta.bill added this photo to his favorites. (34 months ago)
velotta.bill (34 months ago | reply)
fantastic scene OMT
oldmantravels (34 months ago | reply)
Bill -- I don't know how many photos I took during the two days of hiking around the park, but it was at least 100 or more. From those photos I eventually settled on 36 to upload and share on flickr. Of those 36, five were of the goofy marmot that entertained me on the one hike. But of the 36, if I were to select 6 of my personal favorites, this would be one of them, and it surprises me since the colors here are so soft and the scene so quiet. Bottom line: I'm often shocked at what photos flickr friends choose to view, comment on, or favorite.
It always somehow makes me feel "better", when others choose the photos that I would choose, so THANKS! Postscript: I like your flickr buddy icon. We had a yellow Lab once and she was the best dog we have ever had. They are fun, loveable, and adorable. OMT
Walks On Rocks (34 months ago | reply)
this is a really great photo, almost a perfect view with all those photography elements just right.
american bistort = smelly socks.
oldmantravels (34 months ago | reply)
WOR - - if you want a real olfactory surprise around Mt. Rainier, check out the "fragrance" of Jacob's Ladder some time (actually, don't do it). It is a beautiful flower with a sky blue color that we find often on the hike from Sunrise to the Fremont Mt. fire lookout trail. For such a sweet looking flower their odor will knock you over.
[Polemonium pucherrimum] a.k.a. Showy polemonium or "skunk flower" for good reason. OMT
Cold Mountain added this photo to his favorites. (34 months ago)
Cold Mountain (34 months ago | reply)
Magnificent!
oldmantravels (34 months ago | reply)
Thank you Mike. I kind of like this photo myself. SMILE. OMT
Erik Hovmiller (34 months ago | reply)
Hippies on a stick! Killer shot.
--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
mark_andrews added this photo to his favorites. (34 months ago)
oldmantravels (34 months ago | reply)
E & sJ - - That's good. I thought I had heard all the irreverent monikers for the poor pasque flower, but that is a new one. OMT
54vintage added this photo to his favorites. (34 months ago)
54vintage (34 months ago | reply)
Again I'm compelled to say you live a charmed life.
Always a pleasure to see what you have been up to!
oldmantravels (34 months ago | reply)
Chuck - - and I'm equally compelled to respond "I know it and not a day goes by that I don't appreciate it of give thanks for it.". Life is good and precious. Thanks OMT
chatzielein (33 months ago | reply)
Gorgeous picture!
oldmantravels (33 months ago | reply)
chatzielein - - thank you for your nice comment on this photo and congratulations on your U.S. citizenship. WELCOME! OMT
BellaLunaGirl and Herb Hyder added this photo to their favorites.
Bob Noble Photography (25 months ago | reply)
This is a beautiful shot. Well Done. Thanks for sharing.
oldmantravels (25 months ago | reply)
Thank you Bob. I have run across your high quality photographs often on flickr, so when I get a photo compliment from somebody like you, it is special. OMT
peyton.hale and McCoy352 added this photo to their favorites.
McCoy352 (23 months ago | reply)
Steve---this is one of the finest shots that you have taken in my humble opinion! Mount Rainier stands proud and tall in the background :)
My son and I have visited Hurricane Ridge the past two weekends and each week more wildflowers are showing themselves to us all!
oldmantravels (23 months ago | reply)
A sincere "thank you" Lance. I think all of us in the PNW have "paid our price of admission" with long wait for great weather to finally arrive. Now that it is here, there is so much to see and do and so little time. One of life's realities. Have fun out there! OMT
David M Hogan - Now on Google+ too (22 months ago | reply)
Magnificent!!
oldmantravels (22 months ago | reply)
Thank you kindly cap'n for your visit to my photostream. Rainier is indeed a most magnificent mountain at any season. Can't keep from going back again and again. OMT
CGA[AvoidingResourcefulGooglers] (20 months ago | reply)
Absolutely gorgeous, OMT!! I hope you don't mind me adding you as a contact, I think you have an amazing eye for photography!
CGA[AvoidingResourcefulGooglers] added this photo to his favorites. (20 months ago)
oldmantravels (20 months ago | reply)
C.G. - - Thank you for the compliment on this photo and for making me a Flickr contact. I enjoy the feedback I get on my photos and narratives, especially the "postive" variety. I know I am not a photographer and never pretend to be but I do love to hike and travel. That predilection and a love of the outdoors, offers the opportunity for me to take photos of some beautiful places. I like to photograph what I see to preserve the memories and to share those experiences with others. Your comment reinforces that effort. THANKS. OMT
Jackmur added this photo to their favorites. (13 months ago)
This photo was invited and added to the Flower Fields group.
mik3l 81, ida57, and P Winders added this photo to their favorites.