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Sunset view down Nisqually River Valley in Mt. Rainier National Park..
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Night photography beckoned this fall, so I decided to do an overnight trip to Mt. Rainier on what I hoped would be a relatively clear night. Actually, my first choice had been an overnight backpack on the lower slopes of Mt. Baker, but then I saw a recent trip report for the Railroad Grade area that had a hiker postholing through the deep snow there. Change in plans!
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I drove to Mt. Rainier just after noon on an early October weekday. It was cloudy upon my arrival, but I had time to check out possible positions for night photography and to find some great spots for late autumn photography.
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After taking some evening photographs of a vivid sunset, I went to Cougar Rock Campground and was sawing logs (and not for a campfire!) by 8:00 p.m., with the alarm set for 3:00 a.m., when I expected the half-moon would be high in the sky and most of the clouds would have lifted.
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I awoke as planned and drove to Reflection Lakes, drinking the coffee I had wisely made before bed. The mountain was revealed and everything went as planned, though I was a little surprised that there wasn’t more snow on The Mountain, given the stormy weather of late. Later, I had hoped for dawn alpenglow on the peak, but just got the littlest bit of faint pink light.
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I spent the rest of the day photographing in the Paradise area, with a classic clear morning at Reflection Lakes, followed by a hike on the Skyline Trail in search of White-tailed Ptarmigans, which I failed to find. It was a wonderful day with lots of older hikers on the trail.
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A strange cloud emanates from the mountain at night..
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Dawn glow, stars, and clouds..
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At first light, the cloud emanating from The Mountain began to dissipate..
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oh, i want to snap up more than a few of those and hang some in my house! sadly, i don’t think i could afford them. excellent photos, thanks!
My dream vacation is to come to Mt. Rainier, stay at Paradise Inn for couple of days and drive using the scenic pacific route all the way back to CA. And……………may my dream come true 🙂
It is a great place to visit, and be sure and drive around the Olympic Peninsula while you’re here, and stay at the Quinault Lodge and see the rain forest, then stay at Kalaloch along the beautiful Washington Coast.
Will do. I googled and found Kalaloch lodge looks soooo beautiful.