19 April 2018
The Longmire Lodge is quaint, close (as in small rooms) and since it has been refurbished, has probably lost a little of its charm. However, it makes for an excellent home base for exploration.
Every meal Tom and I have had in their restaurant has been excellent. It’s a very small kitchen but they have a menu that has something for everyone. I met a vegetarian couple this afternoon and they say the chef takes pains to create something interesting for them every meal. The staff go out of their way to make you feel at home and comfortable.
After breakfast, Tom and I decided to return his tire chains since we would be using the jeep for our travels. The place was nice enough to only charge him for one day’s rental instead of two. After that we decided to try to find a spa we had seen on the way in. I thought it was close to the park, he thought it was between Elbe and Ashford (I was right). In any case, we drove to Elbe where Tom had seen a particular church he wanted to photograph.
It’s a German Lutheran Church and as much as I hate to admit it, it was charming. Next to the church was a series of vintage railroad cars. You can rent a railroad car to spend the night. They have converted all manner of cars into sleepers and they rent out like motel rooms. There is also a restaurant in a diner car.
On the way back to the park, we noticed two spa signs. The first one was OK but both Tom and I prefer a male massage therapist (we were corrected that they do not go by masseur or masseuse any more) and they only had a female.
The second place must be popular because I was told that for an appointment, they needed three weeks notice.
As we returned to the park, we took a short walk down Kautz Creek Trail. Like my tsunami signs in Redwoods, there were warning signs all over the place about mudflows from Mount Rainier that could occur at any moment and that the mud flow was the consistency of cement. We did not tarry long. There was evidence of mudflows in the past and apparently there have been some major ones in the park. I suspect the spring thaw is the best time to get caught up in one.
The gate to Paradise opens at 9 am and we were entering the road to Paradise a little after 9. Paradise is the name of the place where you find a second visitor center and the Paradise Inn (closed for the winter). It is aptly named!
Paradise is some 5000 feet higher than Longmire and you continually climb the mountain via hairpin curves. Every so often as you round the curve, you would get a glimpse of Mount Rainier – sometimes enveloped in clouds and sometimes set off against a brilliant blue sky.
Two sections of the road had signs that warned of avalanches and that there was no stopping or parking along those stretches of the road. The park service did an excellent job of clearing the road and there was only one little part that had a little ice on the road.
Once in Paradise, we discovered the visitor center was closed as well as the Paradise Inn.
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This is some of the most spectacular scenery since I’ve seen Yosemite. There weren’t many waterfalls, but you kept seeing one mountain peak after another. You might think you were in the alps.
After we returned to the lodge for lunch, Tom headed for a nap and I headed for two hikes. One was a 1.5 mile loop through the administration facilities and ranger cabins over a suspension bridge and into a campground (not open) .
It was this innocuous trip that I got my best views of Mount Rainier. You could really see the full expanse of the mountain and what it would take to make it to the top.
Also, near the entrance to the campground at the community center building was a memorial to those park personal who had sacrificed their lives trying to rescue people stranded on the mountain. It was a moving memorial with four names carved into the stones.
The second hike was a 0.7 mile hike around the mineral springs that gave this hotel and park its start. Much of the hike reminded me of a temperate rainforest.
A restored original cabin was in place and two of the mineral springs were available to view.
By the time I got back, it was 3:30 pm and Tom was still napping so I headed to the lounge to do the blog. I met a couple from Seattle and we shared information on trips. I recommended two Tauck trips: Desert Southwest Tour and the Bugaboos. I think they are really interested in doing those two. They were kind enough to show interest in my day’s photos and of Death Valley.
Tomorrow, Tom said he would like to do some short hikes so I think I’ll take him on the two I did today. I also want to head to the Mount Saint Helens Visitor Center. The ranger said on a clear day, you can see the mountain from the center. Also, one of the roads is partially open and we might be able to get closer. It’s about an hour and half drive south.
