Hurray for blue skies! Started our excursion from the Paradise parking lot on this absolutely gorgeous sunny February Sunday. Headed down the road beyond Paradise and up to Mazama Ridge, where we took a left and onward to Paradise Glacier. We were both not sure what it would look like when we saw it because of the snowcover, etc. We kept plugging away with the help of our topo and compass (and also following tracks that seemed to know where they were going!) and finally settled on a rocky hilltop for lunch since we were looking forward to a rest and I was certainly starving! (I'd been looking forward to lunch before we left the parking lot!) I was slightly bummed that this huge wall of snow was obstructing our view of Rainier but we still had an awesome view of the Cascade range. After making a point to really study my Paradise area topo map, I realized we had been snowshoeing along side the massive glacier for quite awhile! (That was the huge obstructing wall of snow!) Ok, so we felt a little silly, but we at least got to our destination - and beyond! On our way back, we explored the rolling hills in an attempt to get back via Panorama Point. We were certain we found the way there, but opted to go the rest of the way back the way we originally came because low clouds suddenly encompassed the area but there was more clearing via the lower route. Colder temps came along with the clouds, too. We probably would have been fine, but there was no reason to take any chances on winding up all socked in. We can always go back again to get to Pan Point. It was a good day at Rainier! Great views all the way.

We had waited until the weather forcast was perfect to take our annual trip to Mount Rainier. We arrived at Paradise around noon and spent the afternoon enjoying the fantastic views from the Paradise Glacier trail. There were mobs of people--the parking lot completely full and cars parked all the way down the road to Paradise Valley. But once we headed up from the lower meadows they thinned out considerably. By the time we reached the ""moonscape"" area leading to the view of the glacier, we hardly saw anyone. Since there was quite a bit of snow, (much more than last year at this time when we hiked this same trail) we didn't go to the end of the trail, but crossed a short snowfield and climbed to a great overlook at about 6400 feet. Mount Adams, St. Helens, and Hood were perfectly clear in the distance. The higher meadows are beginning to turn to Fall colors, although we still found quite a few flowers left--especially lupines. Nearly everyone we passed on the way down seemed ecstatic over the beauty of the day.

From Paradise Inn or the road, the trail is clear of snow. The Glacier is melting but if you stay on the trail you'll stay dry. The view of Stevens Canyon, Mt. Saint Helens, and Mt. Adams is great, if you can catch them on a clean day with no haze. Please stay on the marked trail until you get to the Van Trump Monument. The unmaintained trail is good from there, if you stay on the path. Don't avoid the water running in the path, you'll just cut another path and tromp the flowers.