Spray Park — Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022

What a spectacular day for this hike, even though flowers are mostly past and berries and fall foliage haven't yet begun.  We got to the trailhead about 10:30 on a Sunday morning  and were a little daunted by the line of cars stretching down the road from Mowich Lake, but the trail itself was not crowded.  This trail has one of those near-perfect, a-little-of-everything combinations of beautiful forest,  gorgeous waterfalls and pleasant burbling streams, and  a lovely alpine meadow with that gradually unfolds to view as the trail winds up and around, with  eye-filling views of Mt Rainier  on one side and mountains I can't name on the other.  The trail is in great condition for such a popular spot, with only a few rocky/rooty areas.  Many thanks to whoever does the trail maintenance here, and to whoever built the stone steps that keep the steeper parts stable. Bugs today were not too bad--only a problem at the meadow itself, and even there they weren't really swarming, but I did get bitten and normally they don't bother me. My companions who get bitten more often put bug spray on and were fine.  Other wildlife included a tiny mole excavating under a hemlock seedling, fat tadpoles in the meadow ponds, and a gang of Canada jays at work snatching food from people's fingers.