Mt. Rainier

Monday 6/23/2014

Packwood, WA

Day started by making several phone calls to change the dates for our motel in Glacier and the date for the Tipi.  Got that all handled and then checked Zoey’s Kindle and found that everything had been erased even the registration.  Not sure if she did something or what but I finally got it registered again but now I have to reload all her movies, games and books.    Left the hotel by 9:30 heading for Mt. Rainier South Entrance traveling through Gifford National Forest on some roads that were nothing more than cattle paths. As we enter the National Park we begin to climb and climb and then the glaciers come into view.  The glacier rivers rush down the mountainsides creating spectacular waterfalls.  At one point we were close to the snow and the kids got out and made snowballs.  Todd wanted to stop at the visitor center to buy something but it was closed so we returned to Packwood for lunch and then rode another 40 miles to a General Store which did not prove to have much of anything.  In fact there is nothing in this whole area of Washington but small towns with $9 hamburgers (they can charge that because they are the only stop in the town).  Cannot imagine where people work but from the looks of the property it is obvious no one has much.  I guess a garden and a few cows and you are self-sufficient up here.  Returning to Packwood we spot one female elk right by the road eating leaves and when we stopped and I put the window down to take a good picture she started walking toward me.  Then about a mile further we spotted 6 more of them eating grass in an empty yard just inside the town of Packwood.  No fear as I got out of the car and walked closer to them for a picture.  I could hear Don and the kids in the car saying “don’t go any closer”.