Craaaa...zzzy trip to Mt. Ranier

OK... so we get a call from our friends Jan/Wayne mid- May.... while they are scheduled to volunteer in Utah, the area is snowed under and they can't get there until mid June. They've decided to drive to Mt. Ranier and check out the volunteer "opportunities" for next year .... would we be interested in meeting them there ??? Well.... sure we say !! We throw a few things together and off we go !!! Up thru Salmon, ID - along the Salmon River it was gorgeous, green, rivers & winding roads,. Crossed thru a portion of MT and then as we were making our way to WA, our "TOMTOM" handy dandy electronic guide beeped.... and told us to "TURN RIGHT" now. OK, so we did....then it said turn left, turn right.....wellll.... it took us on the most backcountry gravel roads, in the middle of NO where and at times it narrowed to cliff on one side, narrow road for us and steep cliff downward!! We spent an hour or more either on top of the world or winding our way to some where !! BV said if we slid off at any time, who knew when anyone would find us... no cell, no service no NOTHING !!

Finally we go to a main road and all we want to do is GET THERE !! We drive thru lush woodlands that almost touch the vehicle. And yippeee... we find the entrance to the park and the cabin we're staying !!! Talk about a beautiful location !

We settle in, then drive for dinner & groceries. It alternates between drizzly & sunny. ... and no TV or internet. So... we do the old fashioned activities.... talk, visit, play cards and have a great time !!

Next day we get up a take a trip to see "the mountain" ! Well... it's rainy and as we drive higher n higher.... we see the snow signs. What's up ??

It's the end of May for gosh sakes ! It starts raining, sleeting then snowing and by the time we get to the visitor center, it's actually 27 degrees and snowing, can't see anything !! So we visit the center which is great and back down we go.

A point of interest along the way..... these train cars... that have been turned into a hotel complex and fine dining establishment. What a great idea !

Next day we are to meet with the volunteer coordinator, but that doesn't happen. So.... we hang out, hike and tour the area. 3rd day is sunny !!! And we decide to take a final trip to see Mt. Ranier..... along the way there were elk, moose, these bluebirds....



And a coyote rushing with it's meal across the road !

Along the way.... there it was .... the mountain! This photo doesn't do it justice....
.... but as we wound our way up we got more glimpses and then there it was !!! As we stood at the visitor center..... we could watch the clouds change formations around the mountain.... they say it is so high and huge, it makes it's own climate !!

It was a great day..... craaa...zzzzy overall trip, a once in a lifetime experience.... even if it was 1700 miles round trip in 4 days !!! And... we learned, don't trust all those electronic devices....my good old hard copy map will do just fine, thank you !!!