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We've had snow storm after snow storm hit the Cascades recently, here in the Great Northwest. But, two weeks ago the weather cleared, and it coincided with a flight I had out of Seattle. I feel quite lucky that I picked the correct side of the plane to sit on, and that our route took the airplane so close to Mt Rainier. I had my little digital "point and shoot" snapping away as we approached the mountain from its northwest side, passed it along its west face, then banked at the southwest corner revealing a quick peek at its full southern face, before we were headed away from the mountain.
This ornament was created by Eatonville, Washington, artist Dale Thompson, how had a long career with the National Park Service before retiring as Mount Rainier's chief naturalist in 1981.
The ornament depicts the traditional iconic mountain scene of Paradise meadows and the Muir snowfield taken from Mazama Ridge. A self-described bird nut, Thompson also included on the back side of the ornament images of two colorful bird species found in the park – the western tanager and the Steller’s jay perched on white pine boughs.
A shot of Mount Rainier taken from the Cowlitz Divide trail, captured Sept. 20, 2004.
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Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.
You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.
