Taking the long way to the Paradise Visitor Center of Mount Rainier National Park, we looped around the North side of the Park on the Chinook Scenic Byway / Mather Memorial Parkway / SR-410 as it followed the White River, went up into and through the Chinook Pass, and down into the Naches Valley.
Looking south from the highway towards a very green north face of (what I think) is Rooster Comb Mountain
Closeup of the snow dusted peak
Looking back from a little farther down the road
Large cedar tree stump off the side of the road beyond some small Douglas Fir trees
Closeup of (what I think is) a few Douglas Fir saplings in the brush
Looking southwast towards the foothills from the highway shoulder
Back towards (what I still think) is Rooster Comb Mountain
Throwaway shot of the sun and clouds (and me in the bottom corner) reflecting off the rental car's mirror
Looking out the windshield a little farther down the road as it starts cutting through Federation Forest State Park and a canopy of Douglas Fir trees
The forest is thick through here and will be explored on the next trip
The snowmelt and glacier fed White River largely parallels this section of the road
The water was only a couple of feet deep on this day but was rushing by fast over the river rocks. The rocks on the bottom left looked like they were placed to protect the roadbed from erosion
Snowmelt water was very clear
Looking back upstream
The otherside of the road was walled by Maple trees
Closeup of the Maple leaves in the sun
Beyond the Maples, the forest was just as thick as before. Moss covered the rocks and on the sides of several other random trees
Closeup of the moss covered rocks
A little farther down the road, was a Mount Rainier Viewpoint and various markers for the Mather Memorial Parkway. This one speaks about Stephen T. Mather, the first Directer of the National Park Service from 1916-1928.
"Preserving the national beauty of the major northern entrance to Mount Ranier National Park". Continues "During his 14 Years in office, Mather labored to realize this vision. In 1931, one year after his death, Congress designated 60 miles of land along Highway 410 as the Mather Memorial Parkway - a tribute to Mather's dedication and vision."
The second section speaks about how this road largely follows a well traveled Indian path.
Reads "Before Mather's time, American Indians traveled this very route, following the White River and climbing over Chinnok and Cayuse passes to reach what we now call Eastern Washington. As you follow this path, notice the many differences in plans, rock formations, and weather along the way."
This second marker spoke of the history of Mount Rainier.
Reads "On clear days, the snow capped dome of Mount Rainier is a sight to behold. A sleeping volcano is one of the most prominent peaks in the Cascade Mountain Range. It's dome grew from successive eruptions of lava and ash, starting about one million years ago. In more recent times, Rainier's craggy peak was rounded off by the erosive force of huge glaciers. Twenty-five major glaciers still rest on the mountain's soldiers, comprising the largest single-peak glacier system in the contiguous United States".
Like the first marker, the second section ties story back to when Indians inhabited the area.
Reads "American Indians hold this mountain in high regard. Several tripes on the mountain's east side named it Tahoma, or "large white peak." On the west side, some tripes called it RTa-co-bet or "nourishing breast." after Mount Rainier's life-giving rivers and streams."
We kept crossing paths with another tourist also taking in the sights. He was also in the 'biz', wearing a shirt from a SANS Infosec Conference.
The third marker described how the forest has evolved over the last 1,000 miles.
Reads "Douglas-Fir, Pacific Silver Fir, Western Hemlock, and Western Red Cedar are the pillars of the Mather corridor. Some of these trees are over 1,000 years old. Most trees near this site are much younger, having grown from the ashes of forest fires raging 200 to 300 years ago. Fires have been shaping the forest for centuries, removing dead wood, eradicating harmful insects and disease, and creating niches for new trees and shrubs to grow."
The marker goes on to describe a fire in 1701 which burned through about 20% of western Washington State.
Continues "A massive fire swept through this area in about the year 1701. How do we know? Samples of wood from the interiors of both live and dead trees show signs of scarring from fire. By counting the annual rings in the wood, scientists can estimate when the scarring took place"
The trees through here do look smaller and younger than what was seen on parts of the road in. Not sure why somebody clear-cutted a path into this section
And weirdly, it looked like there were also clear cutting scars through the younger trees along the hill adjacent to the viewpoint as well.
Nope, we're not in Texas anymore
This fourth marker chronicles the Electron and Osceola Mudflows which were caused by Mount Rainier eruptions and their impact to the area.
Reads "Along with lava and ash, the volcanically active Mount Rainier has contributed thick flows of mud from its sides and summit. One of the largest mudflows occurred about 5,800 years ago sending thick rivers of mud down the White River drainage. These flows carried rock and huge boulders some 35 feet tall and several hundred feet around, from the mountain's slopes to the surrounding lowlands."
The second section continues about the Osceola Mudlfow specifically "The largest of the mountain's histroic flows, the Osceola mudflow covered an area of about 100 square miles. IT burried the present town stie of Enumclaw (24 miles west of here) under as much of 70 feet of debris. Seismic activity triggered the mudflow, resulting in the collapse of nearly 2,000 feet of Mt. Rainier's summit." This sounds eriely similar to the resent history of Mt. St Helens.
This fifth marker speaks of the river's namesake color and neighboring scenic waterfall.
Reads "Particles the size and color of plaster dust give the White River its distinctive pale hue. These particles are what geologists call "Glacial Flour" -- a fitting name for the pulverized rock from the Emmons Glacier's slow-moving mill wheel. Meltwater from the Emmons Glacier on Mount Rainier, fills the White River for its first mile or two. The White River and its tributaries support five runs of anadromous fish, including Sockeye, Cobo, and Chinook salmon"
The Skookum Falls can be seen just west of the viewpoint. The marker says "The breathtaking view of Skookum Falls (to the upper right of this panel) has enthralled visitors for many hundreds of years. The word Skookum means "strong" in the Chinook jargon of the early European traders."
Yep, I'm taking your picture
Looking at the 250+/- feet tall Skookum Falls in the distance
Candid shot of Alicia looking up at the Falls
Closeup of the Falls coming over the ridgeline
Water from the Falls eventually finds it's way into the White River below
Looking down the White River as it flows away to the Southeast
Water is a bit calmer than it was in the last photoset 10+/- miles upstream
Closeup of the both of us with the Skookum Falls and White River in the background
Farther down the road, looking up at the tree covered rock formations
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I liked how the sun lit up the maple tree in the center of this photo, along with the moss covering the exposed granite
Closeup of the granite, a rockcut from when they brought the road through
The moss itself, growing on the south side of the rocks (no matter what the old saying says)
Ended up here in Naches for a late lunch overlooking the river of the same name. Food was pretty good.
The Whistlin' Jack Restaurant sign had a distinct 60's feel to it, and despite the good food, the restaurant building felt a bit dated too. Wonder if the adjancent hotel/cabins were also stuck in the past or if they were just trying to hang on to an old nostalgia feeling with an updated reality. Can't beat the location though.
