Lost in a cloud...

End day 12.

Woke up to the thick blankets of fog enshrouding the surrounding mountains around us. This morning we decided to go up to Sunrise on the east side of Mount Rainier. On the way there we passed through really thick packets of fog where you could see less than one hundred feet in front of you. Thankfully, those didn’t last too long and we were back in clearings. As we got closer to Sunrise, we were able to finally see the mountain. It was spectacular! The sun was glistening off the snow-covered sides in wonderful effect.

Mt.Rainier with the road that leads to Sunrise.

Wild flowers with Mt. Rainier as a background.

View from Sunrise just as the clouds were moving back in.

 After tearing ourselves away from that, we headed south and left the park. We drove a ways until we reached Mt. St. Helens National Park. That, too, we were unable to see do to the cloud cover…at least at first. We drove to a place that was supposed to be a good lookout, but like I said it was cloudy so we couldn’t see anything. In fact, we were actually high enough that we were in the cloud and the only thing we could see was it. So we headed back down the mountain. A few miles down, looking back, we could see it peeking through the clouds. Excited, we turned around and head back up in hopes that the clouds had cleared. Along the way we had a couple of good vantage pointes, but it was still not visible from the good spot. We turned back around and drove back down (I think I now know that road almost by heart!!! He he he Ok, maybe not quite, but there was one stretch of road that we traveled six times!). Eventually, we got a pretty good look at the mountain, but it wasn’t of the crater side. Oh well!

Mt. St. Helens peeking through the clouds.

A better view of the mountain from the south.

 We continued south and stopped at the bottom part of the park at a place called Ape Cave. Before anyone asks, no, there were no apes there—unless you count me! We descended about thirty feet down into this AWESOME lava tube that runs parallel to the surface. The section we walked was over a mile and pretty easy. The lava tube was in spots thirty feet high and about fifteen feet wide. Oh, and did I mention, pitch black? Good thing we had our torches with us (electric torches. A.K.A. flashlights) and we adventured deep within! If you are ever in the area I highly recommend doing it. Dress warm though, because the temp. is about 43 degrees.

People as they walked through the lava tube.

Me breathing on my beam of light created rainbow colors!

Same as before. Isn't it amazing what you can do?

Me, three times! If you want to know how, you'll just have to bribe me...with cereal!

More light trails.

 After reaching daylight again, we exited the park and crossed the border into Oregon. 44 states down and 6 to go!!!!! After stopping at a couple of places we finally got a hotel in the Portland area. That will be the start of tomorrow’s adventures!  Until next time!

End day 12.