TOLMIE PEAK LOOKOUT

At least once a year a I have to visit Mt Rainier if not more. The majestic mountain is so prominent looming above it's surroundings that it's a joy to get high and just relax your eyes on it's snow capped slopes.
It was my first time up to Rainier this year and i wanted to get some time lapse videos of moving clouds over Rainier.
So i headed up to Mowich lake on Mt Rainier National park's NW side. From Mowhich lake there's a short 7.5 mile round trip hike up to Tolmie Peak lookout. From the lookout you have a great vantage point to gaze upon Rainier. 
Most people stop at the lookout but the true Tolmie Peak is just a little farther and offered me solitude.

The clouds were finally clearing at dusk

I set up shop on Tolmie Peak as the clouds slowly started to dissipate. The weather called for the clouds to clear in the evening. The clouds were doing just that but slower than i wanted. So i took a short relaxing nap.
Upon waking up I took several videos hoping the mountain would reveal it's self ......but nothing. On my last video my battery died just as the tip of Rainier was being revealed. Bummer!!!!!!
On the hike out, which was earlier than i planned, i hiked by a fellow photographer who's camera was humming away. He also was capturing some time lapses.
All in all a great beautiful relaxing day!! 
The below pictures were taken mostly with my camera phone.

Fresh Huckleberries from the trail

Eunice lake with the lookout above

Looking down on Eunice lake

A Gray Jay hanging out giving me photography tips

Tolmie Fire Lookout

Mt Rainier finally revealing itself

Mt Rainier from up in the lookout

Mt Rainier from the lookout

Indian Paintbrush

Indian Paintbrush

The trail just above Lake Eunice

Tolmie fire
lookout from Tolmie Peak

Visiting Zion National Park

My friend and i took advantage of a companion fare from Alaska Airlines and headed down to Vegas for the weekend!!!
It was near midnight as we drove through the people packed Vegas strip on our way to our hostel.  Driving through the strip took forever but to our full enjoyment!!! Pulling in to Sin City Hostel, very much recommended, we were cheerfully greeted by a happy tourist passing out free Budweiser. After settling into the hostel we set out for Fremont St. We walked the street and enjoyed the festivities and music along with a tasty couple of pizza slices then back to the hostel. But no gambling. Vegas was actually not what we came for!!!
Zion national Park has been on our list of national parks for some time. With spring time being the best time to visit we launched our attack. The weather was in the mid 90's in Vegas to high 80's in Zion. The heat was great compared to drizzly cool Seattle. We enjoyed filling up on vitamin D the whole trip!! 

Our view of the Virgin River from Angel's Landing

Saturday we drove north from Vegas and into Zion National Park. Zion National Park is perfectly set up for tourists. Visiting is fun and simple to navigate. The bus ride is relaxing while the canyon wall landscapes grab your attention the whole ride. Your head may be a little sore from lifting your chin up the whole ride.
Along the ride are many stops with viewpoints and trail heads from easy to moderately hard.
Angel's landing is a must!!!

3/4 of the way up to Angel's Landing

Angel's Landing has sweeping views of the Virgin river along with the gigantic canyon walls. Its not for the faint of heart as the steep cliffs straddle you on both sides. Railings and chains attached to the rock wall help stabilize the queasy feelings you may get.

Another must do.... The Narrows!

The Narrows near the south entrance

We rented from neoprene boots with two hiking sticks and up the river we waded and hiked. The steep walls go straight up the slot canyon as it is almost full of the Virgin River's swift waters. 

Huge rock in the Narrows. This didn't end well!!

One of the deepest parts of the Narrows