Day 3: Mount Rainier |
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| Mt. Rainier | Students describing lava flows | Hiking up to Nisqually Glacier |
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leave early for Mount Rainier and hike up to the moraines of Nisqually
Glacier. On our way through the alpine meadows above Paradise we study the
techniques used by the Park Service to keep us out of the meadows.
It seems to work mostly: wildflowers everywhere the eye can see.We have lunch on a lateral moraine, next to snow fed stream. After lunch we learn about glaciers and spend a few hours studying mountain glaciers and taking in the scenery. |
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| Mark standing on lateral moraine, Nisqually Glacier | Lunch on the moraine | Prof. Morrison identifying plants, Nisqually Glacier |
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| Observing volcanic rocks and glacial features, Nisqually Glacier | ||
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| Attacked by an old patriarch. | The traditional way to estimate tree size | |
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On
our return from Nisqually Glacier we enjoy the wildflowers on the alpine
meadows around Paradise before we have a nice long shower at the Visitor
Center. On our way home we check out the "Grove of the Patriarchs"
to see some really big trees. Prof. Morrison teaches us how to
measure tree height, canopy cover, and how to cruise timber. We
still have not seen a spotted owl yet. Again - the rangers appear to have
no knowledge of this elusive bird... The old growth trees are so high that
we have trouble measuring their height. 250 ft + is all we get for these
giants. For dinner we return one more time to Iron Creek campground. |
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| Cruising timber | ||
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| Doing dishes | Preparing for the next day. | |
| previous day | next day | |
| back home | back to courselist | back to WA start |