Mouse over photos for information………..
Don’t forget to click on “Archives” on the left side of this posting for OTHER JOURNALS with photos! There are postings dating all the way back to last summer, fall and winter seasons with tons of photos. If you are visiting Mt. Rainier check out the journals from last year for information on what there is to see.
I have posted day hiking suggestions for September so check out my suggestions on the blog posting titled “8-18-2008 Day Hiking Suggestions”.
September is the start of the fall season in the Pacific Northwest with chilly mornings and moist wet dew on everything making you think it rained during the night. This September of 2008 the weather has been spectacular with bright sunny days warming up to the high 70’s or 80’s after evening temperatures plunging down to 40 degrees. Mount Rainier has been showing off to all the city folks in the Seattle – Tacoma area with awesome morning sunrises and nice pink sunsets with the moon close by increasing to full size.
Inside Mount Rainer National Park this September is particularly special! Due to the late snowfall in June and the long snow melting season that lasted into the middle of August, the summer flowers are blooming now in September! I have often seen what I call the “Clash of Seasons” where winter snow lays on top of autumn red, orange and yellow foliage, but never before have I seen big patches of lush summer flowers druring the fall season. The mountain meadow flowers normally peak at the end of July and beginning of August and are gone by the third week. Therefore, I am calling this September the “historical” autumn season at Mount Rainier National Park.
In between Reflection Lake and Paradise there are many mountain blueberries and huckleberries bushes that fatten the bears as they get ready for their winter hibernation. This September the berries are still a transparent green and will obviously not ripen after long lasting snow lingered until late summer. Without the berries the bears have moved higher toward Paradise this year and have been frequently seen around the Paradise trails. Next April in 2009 as the berry starved bears wake up from their long naps, I suspect, they will be ravenously hungry and unfortunately will quickly find food sources close to people.
With the hint of fall coming to the mountain from the yellow colors appearing on slopes near Paradise and some red vine maples along the Nisqually Road on September 9th, vibrant fall colors will soon decorate the park. Will the warm September weather keep the summer flowers blooming a while longer as the frosty mornings of autumn transform the bushes to fall colors of yellow, orange and red? Check back to see what happens in Mount Rainier National Park!
Written on September 15th after participating in Whittaker’s Rainier Mountain Festival in Ashford on the weekend……….
While at the festival, reports from people that had been hiking said the summer flowers were still blooming! Today, on Monday the 15th of September, the 80 degree weather continues into its second week! This is a glorious month so far!
Sally Johnson
www.mtrainierphotos.com
