I was lucky to get my Wonderland hike done (despite smoke) during good weather. It seems fall is falling quickly here in the Northwest, with lowering freezing and snow levels. As I type this, there is “a series of vigorous frontal systems, bringing wet and windy weather along with cooler temperatures.” However, a few days before the weather was more settled, albeit tempermental when it came to views. I spent 3 days at Mt. Rainier National Park keeping my legs in shape with various outings but in the process was able to tick off one more summit from the 100 list in the park; Mt. Ararat, at 6010’. I started later with the hopes that the skies would clear enough, or have enough holes, to afford me the view over Indian Henry’s Hunting Ground to the mountain beyond. Alas, despite fresh legs and easy navigation, when I arrived on the summit there was but a glimpse of the very tippy top of Rainier through a hole, and another one showcasing part of Iron or Copper…I couldn’t tell which. I stood there for twenty minutes, munching on my sandwich, hoping for that magic moment with the views open up and provide that “wow” factor. Instead, the clouds became thicker and Ararat was engulfed in fog, so I shrugged off my inopportune timing and descended through the soaking flora to rejoin the trail. My views may have been denied, but there’s no denying that a day in the forest, picking one’s way on best terrain to a waiting summit, successfully regaining the trail and trotting all the way down over 3000’ on quads that are getting hardened from nearly two months of hiking….that’s quite a day.

*The tippy top of Mt. Rainier from the summit of Mt. Ararat (6010’), Mt. Rainier National Park*