Top of the World.

  Last weekend Mandy and I rode the Sportster up into the Mt Rainier National Park. OMG!!! Stunning. This past summer we have started to explore our new home. It’s not like this home is all that far from our last home. I think we are only 40 miles from Toutle but we are in an entire new river valley with new hikes and new mountains. 

   I find it odd that I am 58 and have never explored Mt. Rainier. I wish I had done it years ago when I still had knees. Today is the third day since going up there and The pain is just now waning. I hope to recieve my first new knee this December before my insurance rolls over. Perhaps Iwill have the second one done next December. 

  Mt Rainier National park sits almost dead center of southwest Washington state. It is a massive dormant volcano surrounded by alpine meadows, high mountain lakes, and old growth forest. There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails through the park. The mountain is roughly 14,600’ high. Paradise lodge sits at 5400’ of elevation. There is a paved trail from the lodge that leads to an overlook that looks out over the Alpine Meadows. The fall colors were extraordinary. We saw a mountain goat, deer, and this guy. 

   

   The road leading to Paradise Lodge is a beautiful winding two-lane road with stunning vistas and overlooks. The speed limit is 35 mph so it is a great place to ride a motorcycle.

   

If you are disabled due to cancer you may be eligible for free access to all of the National Parks. This day trip was very very GFMPH.