The fog finally cleared!

 

The day I took this photo, the weather was anything but promising. All morning and afternoon, Rainier had been fogged in, with not even a glimpse of her magnificent form peering through the clouds. I debated on whether I should make the drive up the long, dusty dirt road to the primitive campground at Mowich Lake, especially if there was little chance that the Mountain would "come out." However, I went ahead anyway, set up camp, and hiked three miles up to Spray Park, right at timberline. When I arrived - at around 3 P.M., the landscape was completely socked in. Rather than head back down, I decided to take a nap, so I donned my mosquito-net headgear, found a comfy rock, and went to sleep. When I woke up - about 5 P.M. - I noticed that there were a few holes in the clouds, enabling a peekaboo view of the Mountain. A half hour later, the summit was completely clear! With the aid of the late-lying sunlight, I was able to take hundreds of magnificent pictures. Then, just after sunset, the fog again rolled in, completely covering the peak once more. As I hiked back down the trail by headlamp, I reveled in the amazing time I'd just spent on the most beautiful mountain in America. What a day!

Photo: Avalanche Lily at Spray Park, Mount Rainier National Park, CO; July 28, 2013

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