Grand Park via Lake Eleanor — Wednesday, Jul. 30, 2008

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River

Grand Park was most grand. For my 2nd hiking day I needed another flower fix and Grand Park seemed a good choice since that hike never fails to amaze me. The flowers in the Park were really just getting going, mostly paintbrush and those little white alpine pussy toes. Once I hiked through the park, I decided to continue up to Berekley Park since the rumors were the flowers were out in masses. I found a nice rock where I could take a break first and hang out with the marmots. Their take on life seemed appropriate, so I took their advice and sprawled. After a bit, I headed back up the trail towards the Sunrise junction. The flowers were not in their peak and I would guess that they will be great for another 3 weeks. In places it was the early suite – phlox and avalanche lily’s, in the sunnier spots, the lupine, louseworts and paintbrush were about a week or so away from peak. The mop heads were out with only a few flowers (western anemone / pasqueflower) left in bloom. The trail from Grand Park to Lake Eleanor had snow patches in the forest sections – but nothing that was any kind of obstacle – but some of those will be around for another month. Bring bug juice. The whole trail was in good shape.