One of the classic photos of Mt. Rainier is an early morning shot of the mountain over Packwood Lake. The photograph has been on many magazine covers.
To get the photograph takes a four-mile hike into the Goat Rocks Wilderness on the Lily Basin Trail.
The Goat Rocks Wilderness is a favorite of mine. But, it had been 12 years since I hiked into Lily Basin and then Heart Lake, 6 1/2 miles from the trailhead.
I was provided fantastic weather with no clouds in the morning. I took many a photograph of Mt. Rainier.
On the down side the trail had been washed out at 5 1/2 miles, creating a deep and rocky ravine on the headwall of Lily Basin. Even though hikers had been making their way down and up the steep ravine, I decided to put common sense ahead of taking unnecessary chances. As we Mazamas say: There are bold climbers and there are old climbers, but there are no bold and old climbers.
Hiking back to the views of Mt. Rainier, I was treated with the sight of an old hoary marmot sunning itself on a rock.
Mt. Rainier over Packwood Lake
Garter Snake
Trail crossing the headwall of Lily Basin
Mormon Fritillary Butterfly
Hoary Marmot catching some rays
Mt. Rainier over Packwood Lake (iPhone)
Trail washed out, causing a steep scramble out of the rocky ravine
Headwall of Lily Basin
Bluebell
Fly on a Bistort
The marmot is on a “see” food diet.
Getting ready for the winter I suppose.
Love the Packwood Lake picture. Desktop background material.
Thanks Jason. At 6,000 feet above sea level, marmots don’t have much time to fatten up before going into hibernation for a very long winter.
Such beautiful country we get to live in. Thanks for your wonderful photos.
Sent from my iPhone
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Thanks for the kind words Sandy.