My friend Nina thinks that our friend Sarah's good energy is affecting all of us, that that was her final gift to us. I can believe that. Every day of this trip has been amazing. I think it's the best summer of vagabonding I've had so far.
Wildflower meadows and waterfalls.
The little ribbon of water running through the middle of the picture is the beginning of the Nisqually River.
I was looking for a free spot to camp the other night. I was driving further and further down a forest road and getting more and more discouraged. And then, this.
Spectacular view of Mount Rainier, and I had the whole place to myself. I celebrated by turning up my music as loud as I wanted and having my own little dance party.
As I settled into bed that night, I heard a strange noise. I kept texting Paula about it... I was definitely a little freaked out. ("OMG, IT'S GETTING CLOSER!!") But it stopped, and I went to sleep without solving the mystery of what it was.
When I woke up the next morning, the mountain was completely buried in clouds. I was disappointed, thinking I wouldn't get to see much. I was so wrong!
My first stop was Christine Falls, which I'd seen on Pinterest. Lovely.
Then I stopped at Narada Falls, where I saw these guys playing around on the rocks at the top of the falls. They are definitely dead now.
Then... This. Paradise.
Magenta Paintbrush, Pink Mountain Heather (which is over 700 years old!), Avalanche Lily, Broadleaf Lupine, Subalpine Daisy, Subalpine Buttercup
I concur with John Muir's statement.
It almost looked too perfect to be natural.
My second hike of the day took me to a view of the Nisqually Glacier. I have always wanted to see a glacier, and it didn't look anything like I'd imagined. Most of it is covered in dirt and debris, so you can't even see it! Definitely not the huge sheet of ice I was expecting.
On the hike back, I saw some people stopped and looking at this.
A sooty grouse! This is not my video, but this is what it was doing: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MG4-VFK1zEY
Mystery solved! That is what I heard at my campsite the night before.
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