From Anacortes we drove south, past Seattle, heading back into the forest.  When we arrived, the park ranger was so excited to tell us the park was free today because it had been the National Park Service’s birthday the day before.  We missed the cake.

We drove through the northeast entrance headed for Sunrise Visitor Center. The road takes you through lush forests, across raging rivers, and starts the climb up the mountain with vista points along the way.

We parked at the top and explored the visitor center, then walked down a trail.  Stopping to take pictures, we talked to some park rangers who recommended one of their favorite hikes.  It was mid day, and with no afternoon storms, we started out.

We chose the Second Burroughs trail.  It sounded like something out of Lord of the Rings, and it totally lived up to its name.  Of course, like all good views, it was uphill.  There were panoramic vistas on every side.  We came across a park ranger who walked with us for a bit.  I’m telling you park rangers have to be the happiest people.  He told us about the park, its birthday celebrations and  local fauna, and gave us some information.  We continued on to find that the path turned into loose rocks, and although the incline and altitude were a challenge, the rocks made it that much more difficult.

We reached the First Burroughs trailhead when the incline flattened out.  We were standing on top of a plateau.  Mt. Rainier was slowly getting closer.  We stopped to catch our breath, snap some pictures, and take in the view.

Onward.  I could see our destination ahead.  Another rocky incline and then we were there.  It was like sitting on a shelf, so close to Mt. Rainier, yet you couldn’t touch it.  We hung out on top, eating lunch, watching the cloying chipmunks scamming people out of their lunches.  It was the perfect end to an amazing trip.

We started the journey back, deciding at a fork in the trail to take a new route back (which sounds like the start to a horror movie or a Robert Frost poem).  The new route did not disappoint.  It reminded me of the back bowls in Telluride.  Skimming along the edge of a very steep drop, I thought to myself, this would be an incredibly painful death, but a great view until the end.

We eventually hit the trees, past a lake or two and back to the visitors center.  We were beat.

Piling back into the car, we stopped for a quick walk at the bottom to see some giant trees.  The redwoods towered over you, making you feel insignificant.  Beautiful.

We headed back into civilization, stopping for a bite to eat, then off to the airport.

Washington is such a stunning place that’s got a little of everything.  I can see myself spending a significant amount of time exploring the Pacific North West.  We were so sad to leave, it felt like we had just skimmed the surface of this beautiful state.