On Wednesday, August 22, 2012 we said goodbye to our friends Sarah, James and Willa and started to head towards Mt. Rainier National Park. We wound our way west from Kennewick, Washington, the most popular of the three cities that make up the Tri Cities area of the state, and headed towards Yakima. Taking the rest of the afternoon we made our way through Snoqualmie National Forest and wound up hitting Paradise Inn inside Mt. Rainier National Park right as the sun was setting for the day.
The Cowlitz River flows through Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
The Cowlitz River flows through Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
The Cowlitz River flows through Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
The Cowlitz River flows through Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
One of the tunnels along Stevens Canyon Rd. inside Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
Mt. Rainier towers over the Cascade Mountains inside Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
Mt. Rainier towers over the Cascade Mountains inside Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
Wildflowers bloom along Stevens Canyon Rd. inside Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
Wildflowers bloom along Stevens Canyon Rd. inside Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
The Palisades inside Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
The Palisades inside Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
Fallen trees lay across the ground of the rainforest below the Cascade Mountains inside Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
Fallen trees lay across the ground of the rainforest below the Cascade Mountains inside Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
Fallen trees lay across the ground of the rainforest below the Cascade Mountains inside Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
Fallen trees lay across the ground of the rainforest below the Cascade Mountains inside Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
Mushrooms grow on a fallen tree on the floor of the rainforest below the Cascade Mountains inside Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
Fallen trees lay across the ground of the rainforest below the Cascade Mountains inside Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
The sun sets over the Cascade Mountains in Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
The sun sets over the Cascade Mountains in Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
The sun sets over the Cascade Mountains in Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
The sun sets over the Cascade Mountains in Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
Water flows down a dual waterfall along Stevens Canyon Rd. in Mt Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
Wildflowers bloom along Stevens Canyon Rd.at Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.