Cycling Sunrise Road, Mt. Rainier

With crossed-fingers, Craig and I decided to cycle Sunrise Road on Mt. Rainier before it was scheduled to open for cars in several weeks. We called the Mt. Rainier ranger station, but they gave us no useful information concerning how far the plows had cleared the snow. Not sure sure how far we would be permitted to go, we took the risk figuring that we would at least get a small climb in.

We were in luck--all 14 miles and 3263 feet of elevation gain were clear! Although it was a constant uphill slog, it was a beautiful ride with a speedy downhill. Speaking of speeding downhills...this ride also taught me a very good lesson about speed checking and having a heightened awareness of surroundings during a decent. As I began to make my way down the flank of Rainier, an elk ran out in front of me when I was going about 35mph! It was a terrifying experience, but through a combination of my shrill screams, clamping down on my breaks, and him tripping over his own feet to bolt out of the road as fast as he could, no one was hurt. I used to love the feeling of cruising fast after a long climb, but I think I'll think twice about my speeds after that near-miss. 

Coming around the bend!

Craig riding on the car-free road.

We finally get to some small snow banks on the roadside.

Mt. Rainier in the background.

Almost there!

Woo! We made it!

Mt. Rainier

Starting 2016 at Diamond Lake and Crater Lake

Happy New Year! To kick off 2016, Craig and I joined some friends from Oregon at their cabin on Diamond Lake. It was a full-blown winter wonderland weekend complete with snowmobiling, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and cabin relaxing. Below are some photos from the trip. Most of them boast Mt. Thielsen, but he looked so fabulous in his new suit of white that it was impossible to not photograph him in every change of lighting.

Craig walking on a frozen Diamond Lake New Year's morning.

Craig, me, and Mt. Thielsen

Craig and Dan get a tow behind the snowmobile

...and we lost a Craig. I love how this photo looks like Dan is trying to lasso Craig.

Me and Kathie riding in style.

How cute is this place?!

I mean seriously! How cute is this place?! Straight out of a fairy tale!

The deep snow made a great beer fridge for the weekend.

For one of the afternoons, some of us headed over to Crater Lake for snowshoeing. Even without being illuminated by a wintry blanket of snow, Crater Lake has an awe-inspiring beauty that has the power to stop anyone in their tracks. The new coating of white created of scene a of pure radiance and accentuated the lake's frigid blue color.

Wizard Island covered in snow

The rim of Crater Lake with snow.

Me trying not to get blown off the crater wall.

Some of the crew spend the afternoon at Crater Lake.

Kathie, Dan, and Craig down below.

Crater Lake

Mt. Thielsen with a morning shroud.

Mt. Bailey blasted by snow.

Mt. Bailey from below.

Silent Creek

Silent Creek and Mt. Bailey

Attempting some ice fishing.

Getting close with Mt. Thielsen.

Mt. Thielsen's ridge at sunset.

Last light on Mt. Thielsen.

The full crew at Diamond Lake: Cory, Lisa, Kathie, Craig, me, Dan, and Mark

Diamond Peak in the distance.

We awoke on the final morning to several inches of fresh snow with more to come. A storm rolled in early morning and continued for the remainder of the day. Icy roads and heavy snowfall, combined with holiday traffic made for an extra-long drive home. What is normally a ~7 hour drive turned into a ~12 hour trip!

Quick stop at the Deschutes River on the snowy drive home.

Sunrise Lodge, Mt. Rainier

What is a visit to Washington without getting up close and personal with Mt. Rainier? The day before my mom left, we did just that with a hike starting from Sunrise Lodge (northeast side of the mountain). The weather forecast projected rain, but the webcams still showed clear skies for the northeast side. After triple cross-checking the weather and webcams throughout the early morning, we finally decided to risk it and make the drive to Rainier.

We were in luck as the change in weather was moving in slowly, but never became inclement for us. In fact, the high cirrus clouds made for more dynamic photos!

Mt Rainier from the road to Sunrise Lodge

Mom and me along the hike

Looking out at the meadows below

More meadows with Rainier in the background

My hiking companions

Posing for a photo along the trail

With the impeding change in weather came the winds. As we made our way along the trail toward Mt. Rainier, the winds kicked into high gear and were blowing at what must have been 40 mph gusts. The harsh forces were a reminder of why there is so little vegetation at these high elevations.  Fortunately, we didn't have to endure the gusty conditions for the entire trail. The return route was on the leeward side of the mountain flank we walked along and provided protection from the winds.

 

Lots of triangles

We even saw Bruno Mars on the trail! Haha!

Out of the wind and on our way back to the lodge.

Can't get enough of this view!

While eating lunch, we had a visit from some of my favorite birds--the Gray Jays! I've never seen such a consistently curious species of bird. If they think you have food or hear the slightest rustle of someone in a bag, they come out of the woodwork to see what goodies they can snag. Below are some photos of them checking out our lunches.

Using Craig as bird bait (photo: L. Sells)

 Mom is just like Snow White with animals!

Rainier and cirrostratus clouds warning of a change in atmospheric conditions.

Post card views as we wave goodbye to the mountains.

Cycling Mt. St. Helens

Continuing with our trend of biking on roads closed for the winter/early spring season, Craig and I jumped at the chance to cycle Spirit Highway, the road leading to Mt. St. Helens, before it opened to cars. Round trip, the route was about 70 miles, with only a 20 mile section closed to motorized vehicles. There was no snow along the road this time of the year, so I assume the road closure was due to having a lack of funding to support staff in the winter at the Johnston Ridge Observatory.

The ride, although very long and tiring, was awesome! Once we entered the blast zone, an approximate 19 mile radius of obliteration surrounding the mountain's north side, we had fantastic, near constant views of Mt. St. Helens. It was eerie to see the devastation while the snow-capped mountain beamed silently, yet proudly in the distance as if still basking in her underestimated force. Being on a bike allowed us hours taking in this scene while imagining the horror of pyroclastic flows traveling at speeds up to 670 miles per hour, flattening everything in its path.

Entering the blast zone

Mt. St. Helens comes into view

Even with the top gone, that is one big mountain!

On the final stretch to the top. The mountains behind me were tree covered prior to the 1980 eruption.

We finally reached the top and were stunned to find that even with such beautiful weather and an accessible trail head several miles away, there was no on else there! I've been to the observatory before during normal operating hours and, as with most National Parks and Monuments, it's typically packed with people. The experience of being there without crowds was enough to ensure that I'll never go back during the open season; the encounter is just not comparable. It was so incredibly peaceful to be alone with this colossal peak towering overhead and surrounded by a desert landscape that is only beginning to recover from the eruption 25 years later. The only sounds to be heard were the constant whistle of distant winds blowing up and over the summit. It was also the only peak covered in snow, casting a radiance that demanded attention. 

We had the whole observatory to ourselves!

Mt St Helens and her devestation

close up with a new bulge forming

No one here!

I lay down to get some rest before the descent.

Posing with the mountain

It was hard to descend because we kept stopping to take pictures. As it got to be later in the afternoon, the lighting continuously made the landscape more and more photogenic. Once we finally put away the cameras, it was a fun ride, but with more uphill than I recalled.

I'd really like to do this ride again, but only ride the 20 miles without cars and turn it into a sunset trip. The colors were so lovely in late afternoon so I can only imagine the pallet that would open up as the sun sets!

More views on the way down

More views on the way down

More views on the way down.

More views on the way down.

 Profile of the ride.