Mount Rainier "peak-a-boo"

 

Mount Rainier played a lot of peek-a-boo with me on my hike the day I got to visit up top. Didn't get a chance to go to Paradise Point, which is supposed to be a beautiful view of the peak, as that part of the hike was closed due to dangerous footing. The peak was up there, but you didn't get to see it very much. Still, this was a fun mostly sunny day. The following day, you didn't see the peak at all at the Paradise Point side of the mountain. Still, got in some hiking, which was quite challenging but lots of fun. 

Mountain Flowers

 

I was hoping to get fields of mountain flowers out in Washington and Oregon but the flowers were showing only in patches here and there. Still, that was enough to get the feel for what these landscapes could look like at peak flower season. The colors are quite beautiful as mostly you get a lot of browns and greens up in the hills. This hike didn't disappoint at Mount Rainier National Park. 

Diablo Lake in North Cascades

Lake Diablo at North Cascades National Park is a wonder to behold. You might think the water is photoshopped, but it is not. That is the actual color or as close as a camera can make it. The water comes from drainage off of over 300 glaciers high up in the mountains and the silt in the water reflected back all light except that light blue or aqua color that you see here. Pretty amazing and a spectacular view in person. North Cascades is only two hours from Seattle and this scene is right off of the road the runs through the park. No long hike to get this view, although I did a wonderful hike to get to the other side of the lake. Unfortunately, there are not many services in the towns near the park as this is one of the least visited of the lower 48 national parks. However, if you can pull off a day trip or overnight somewhere nearby, it is worth it.   

American Eagle Fly Over

 

Just got back from two weeks of work and play out in Seattle and Portland. Hit hikes at four major mountains, with pictures to come. You know it is going to be a good week when one of your first shots is an American Bald Eagle flying overhead in a city park in Seattle. 

Savannah River Street view

 

Classic Savannah River Street view. A little run down; a lot of character. Very muggy. 

Savannah On My Mind

 

Making good use of my What's This app, we have Leopard Plant, Southern Live Oaks with some Spanish Moss (that one I knew) and Shell Ginger. All of which remind me of Savannah, which I just visited for the first time in more than a dozen years. First trip I didn't get to see much, just remembered the humidity. This time, I got the humidity and a chance to walk around. Interesting town. A little bit of a tourist trap. You have to make it something else on your own. 

Abstract #5: Dreamy Flowers

 

Dreamy Flowers