The snowplows up on Mt. Rainier had just finished plowing the road, when we arrived up at Longmire for a hike. What a change from late fall colors to full blown winter.
I hadn't planned on such cold weather, so didn't have gloves or a hot drink in the thermos. We also brought the wrong kind of boots - for hiking, not snow and slush. But, we headed out on a trail through the woods.
There are little bubbling thermal pools, where carbon dioxide escapes from the volcanic activity in the mountain. They had a strong sulfur smell. Orange iron
residue laced some of the meadows.We walked a nice trail up through the woods, over little streams, through a meadow. It was such a short trail we walked it a second time, taking our time, and really lingering.By the time we were finished, I didn't need a hot drink, and I'd removed my scarf, my coat, and my hat.
It was considerably overcast, with rain, and fog nestled in the mountains by Alder Lake Reservoir - the water is purposefully drained this time of year to make way for the incoming snowmelt.
The little cabin was just someone's long-forgotten idea of a tourist trap, many years ago. We checked out some canoeing places, but didn't find a good put-in place. It was getting dark, so we headed home. One thing about hiking up in high-country, you are ready for a hot meal when you get home. You've worked up an appetite.
