Crystal Mountain Hike

Near Mt. Rainier National Park is a ski resort, Crystal Mountain.  In the summer time they allow you to ride the gondola up to the top of the mountain. 

Here they boast of the "best view of Mt. Rainier."

So of course we have to take a few photo's.

Our son Joseph flew in from Orlando for his mom's birthday and to have a little vacation time from work.

We opted to take the 9 mile hike back down the mountain.  One person commented that we had color coordinated Florida Gator jackets, dogs also. So off down the hill we go.  Joseph helps Bandit over some rough rocks.

Even on the 4th of July we still get to trudge through snow.

The trail is narrow and traverses a steep ski hill.

Photo opp at the switchback.

And then more traversing.

Mocha does a little hunting along the way. 

Bandit does not have too much trouble in the snow, but then he has 4 paw drive.

There are several snow melt ponds around.

You can't help but stop once in a while and just look around. 

Creeks are still running full with snow melt.  So sometimes you have to take a little hop to get over them.

When Bandit gets tired or encounters something he doesn't like he just sets down, then makes a very sad dog face.  Works every time.

At the six mile point is a pretty little lake.

We lost the main trail in the snow drifts, so improvised by walking down some of the cat trails for the ski resort.  They were quite rocky.

The pups starting getting pretty tired so Joseph helped them out with a little ride.

At last we start to see signs of civilization again.

And finally we reach the ski area.  3 hours, 9 miles of steep downhill walking.  We were sore for 4 days.