Paradise.

Nathan, S, and I spent yesterday in Mount Rainier National Park primarily focusing on the Paradise area and its trails. From the moment we arrived, it was a jaw-dropping experience. The elevation change winded us a bit, so we stuck to three minor trails that still offered unbelievable views.

Along these trails, we encountered a lot of wildlife including:
- 5 deer
- 1 grouse
- a dozen Steller's Jays
- a billion tadpoles
- 3 frogs
- 1 chipmunk
- 0 hoary marmots

I think I started to show signs of Stendhal's Syndrome when we hit the Golden Gate trail. The open meadows of wildflowers made me want to spin in circles. Overall, it was exactly the kind of experience I crave. The thought that we live within a reasonable distance to such a place is sort of shocking.

Photos in the next post down...