July 21, 2025 - Driving from Alaska to Maryland
Skyline Hike, Paradise, Mount Ranier NP
Part Two
To remind you, we are on the Skyline Trail heading counterclockwise.  At this point, we're somewhere around the blue mark at top.  We're probably a little more than halfway done.  Most of it has been uphill.  The remainder is mostly downhill.
   
Continuing up the mountain.
   
Looking back the way we came.
   
Unusual rocky area.
   
Now more pink rocks.
   
Spectacular view of Ranier.
   
Looking back east.
   
Now southeast.
   
South.  Paradise can be seen in the distance, just below the clouds.
   
Looking west down upon the overcast layer.  Not a sight you see very often from the ground.
   
The trail leads to Panarama Point.
   
A cairn at Panarama Point.
   
We come to the intersection with Pebble Creek trail.  The trail runs uphill.  You can see some people hiking it in this picture.  No more uphill for us, though.
   
Looking out to the west.
   
Looking back at Mount Ranier.
   
We're finally headed downhill!  We're hiking down to Panorama Point.
   
Good thing we're going downhill.  We're both exhausted.  That's Panorama Point to the right.
   
Getting closer!
   
We made it!
   
Looking down at Paradise.
   
Looking back uphill.  Wow, we really were way up there.
   
Yay, Mount Ranier!
   
 
   
Cairn on top of a big rock.
   
 
   
Carefully working our way down the mountain.
   
Hanging out at Panarama Point.
   
 
   
Looking up the mountain.
   
Looking down the mountain, where we will soon be going.
   
 
   
Starting to see some color.
   
Ye Gods, what scenery on this hike!
   
We spot some kind of wooly groundhog.
   
Close-up.
   
A nice shot of what is left of Nisqually Glacier.
   
Down here, Nisqually Glacier is gone but its path remains.
   
 
   
 
   
Heading downhill now.
   
 
   
Some fledgling climbers practicing on a patch of snow.
   
As we pass people coming up, we're glad we're not them.  They have no idea how much uphill is ahead of them.
   
Back down to an elevation that supports mountain meadows.
   
 
   
 
   
Looking across at the Skyline Trail we hiked up this morning.
   
Back in forest country again.
   
I never get tired of the beautiful wildflower meadows.
   
Yay! We've almost made it.  The Visitor Center is directly ahead.
   
The Stevens Canyon road leads east out of Paradise counter-clockwise around Ranier.  We will take this road.
   
We were exhausteed when we finished Skyline Trail but we still had to drive counter-clockwise around Mt. Ranier to get to our lodging in the Chrystal Mountain Ski Resort area on the northeast side of Ranier.  About an hour drive or so.
 
We stayed at the Village Inn.  Although not cheap, the room was nothing, smaller than the typical motel room, a bed and bathroom.  Clearly designed for skiiers.  That said, you don' really care when you were as tired as we were.  You just want a hot shower and a bed!
 
I picked this place because it was relatively close to the Sunrise area of Mount Ranier where we would be going tomorrow.  Plus, there's not much in the way of lodging available this close to Ranier.
   
 
   
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