Our son Rue took the family on a five mile hike Thursday, starting at Mowich Lake in Mount Rainier Park. This was one of the last photos taken that day, at the very end of a fairly strenuous hike. There is a sign at the trailhead that says: Distance: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 400 Feet
Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
High Point: Approx. 5,350 feet
What we came to know about this part of 'the Mountain' was that millions of mosquitoes and other flying insects seemed to hatch simultaneously, all converging on Annie and her cousin Eva Karin, who were bitten and bothered mercilessly for the first few hours of the hike! After an upward climb of several hours, going deeper and deeper into the forest, they lost their zeal and we parted, with Annie and Eva Karin going back to the car to read (Harry Potter's new adventures were an anticipated 'pick-me-up'). And, Taraz, Rue and I were left to swat the critters while we climbed to 5,350 feet, gasping and winded! 
You've undoubtedly seen the classic pictures of Mt. Rainier from Eunice Lake, considered one of the prettiest lakes in Mount Rainier National Park. (To get the shot in that link, we'd have to hike completely around the the lake, which would have put us to the trailhead way after dark.) 
We began our hike with lunch on top of this big boulder, at the trailhead, at Mowich Lake. 
The trail ascends for about mile to a low pass, switches back, and traverses through forest to Ipsut Pass. Then, we took the trail's left fork toward the lake. The left fork drops 100 feet initially, making the trail seem refreshing, but eventually it levels off, and becomes considerably steeper, with many switchbacks as we approached the lake. 
The wildflowers in the meadows at Eunice Lake were abundant - the beargrass favors a high alpine meadow. 
This is the multi-colored heather that squats low along rocky ridges. The growing season for wild shrubs is only two months, so 60 years worth of growth can be almost minuscule. It is exceedingly important to stay only on trails, so native plants are not bruised or damaged. 
While Rue and Taraz dried off from a swim (Rue in Mowich lake, Taraz in Eunice) I explored the rocky outcroppings and trails around the lake. The air was vigorously refreshing and fragrant, and the air cool.
This is Rue's strategy for warding off mosquito attacks. As we descended the mountain, we met an older gentleman who was hiking alone, which is generally discouraged. I asked him if he'd hiked the trail before, and he had. So, he knew what kind of demands the trail made. Rue noticed that he didn't have a backpack or a water-bottle, nothing to rely on, so he gave the man one of our bottles of water, as a safeguard. I thought that was a very kind thing to do, and it was one of my sweetest memories of the day.By the time we got back down to Mowich Lake and the trailhead, most of the hikers were gone, the lake was basking in early evening light, and the girls were several chapters ahead in Harry Potter. Rue got out a thermos of wonderfully hot coffee, flavored with French Vanilla Coffeemate. It tasted so good, and just hit the spot! Then, he brought out a huge thermos of Annie's homemade chilli - just wonderful taste thrills for the end of the day.
