Today we went on another family adventure! One that was a new experience for all of us. During some internet perusing, Shaun discovered some beautiful pictures of a small lake near one side of Mt. Rainier. Mowich Lake, which can have stunning views of the mountain from one side but also be beautiful covered in hanging clouds and fog, is off the beaten path and not a place that you find the average tourist. The drive can be an interesting one, with the last 15 miles or so on unpaved road but after some investigation we decided we wanted to check it out. Hoping that the labor day weekend didn’t attract too many people we took off for an adventure and ready for just about anything!
The drive up was beautiful, weaving through the low forests along the Carbon River and Carbon River Canyon. The road up wasn’t too bad. We did have to cross a one way bridge that was questionable, but I closed my eyes, held my breath and let Shaun drive and concentrate. Once past the bridge we had a bit more pavement and then it was dirt, gravel and some washboard road the rest of the way up. Up until we reached National Park boundary, the view was a tad depressing at times as due to the fact that most of these forests were used for logging but the closer we got to park boundary the more beautiful it became.
The lake area was a bit busy when we first arrived but the thunderstorm that was threatening to blow in pushed some people away. We decided to stick it out and see what happened. Lucky for us, the thunderstorms held off long enough for us to enjoy the few hours we spent there.
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| Dipping toes into the lake and enjoying the beautiful day. |
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| Throwing and skipping rocks along the shore. |
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| Dipping her toes in. Ellie really liked how it felt when the water went into her shoes. |
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| Someone took a bit of a dive into the water, face first. Oh well, its summer and its warm still. |
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| Admiring some of the late blooming flowers along the lakes shore. Pretty blues and purples. |
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| Mowich Lake |
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| Its tempting to just start walking when you are in scenery like this, but we were unprepared and I am sure the girls wouldn’t last too long. |
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| Driftwood buildup at one of several streams that feed Mowich Lake. |
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| Mowich Lake Fallen |
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| On our way back home we spotted several Ptarmigan along the road. More than I have ever seen in one place. This guy took to the trees when we stopped for a photo op. Come winter these guys will turn white to blend with the snow. |
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| Had the chance to snap a photo of the one lane bridge you have to cross to get up to Mowich Lake. This was on the way back and from this side it looks even more ominous. You cannot see the roadway but it was well worn and full of potholes. Had my heart beating pretty fast! |
Mowich Lake is part of the Wonderland Trail which traverses around the base of Mt. Rainier. You can do some pretty serious hiking there, or you just enjoy some pretty walks around the lake. We chose a pretty walk around the lake with a few stops to explore and dip our toes into the lake. After a few hours of fun and play we made our way back to the car. Thunderclouds were getting bigger and bigger so it was time to get off of the mountain. The last thing you need up here is a sudden downpour that washes out the roads.
We made it down the roads just fine and into the sunshine again. We stopped for a treat at Sonic and then went home. The girls, tired from all the fresh air and hiking around the lake, passed out within a few minutes after leaving Sonic. It was a beautiful and very quiet drive home for Shaun and I. Fun days out exploring new places have lots of benefits, including tired and happy kiddos. And parents too!
The Wharton Adventures 