Summerland, Mount Rainier

September 1, 2012

We have been going on hikes with Grandpa Lowell about once per year.
It is really fun to have three generations of family heading up into the mountains together.
This year, Lowell wanted to take us to Summerland, one of his favorite places on Mt Rainier.

Heading up the trail!

...and up,

...and up some more!

This place is beautiful!

Here we are, in Summerland.
This is a sub-alpine paradise!

Morgan playing in the meadows.
Little Tahoma and Mt. Rainier in the background.

Stunning sub-alpine scenery.

A little critter joined us for lunch.

The trail goes onward and upward, toward Panhandle Gap, the highest point on the Wonderland Trail.
You can see where the vegetation stops, just a little further up the trail.
That there is the alpine!

A family photo.

Okay, it's time to head back down!

I couldn't believe Morgan on the way down.
She wanted to run the trail, and she did, for about a mile.
She had a couple of spills, but kept going. Band-aids were required.
It made me kind of nervous, but I was really proud of her.
Check out the short video below:

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Here she is showing off her "fishing pole" that she was using on the bridge while we waited for everyone else to catch up.
Look at that dirty face!

I have high hopes for this one.

Thanks for taking us up to Summerland, Lowell!
Where do we go next summer?