Snow Melts on the Mountain
Chinook pass was finally open after being closed all winter. It was a clear sunny day, and I couldn’t wait to get a look at Tipsoo lake and Mount Rainier. I wasn’t even sure if the lake would be visible at all or if it was still covered with snow. But we would find out.
We got there and found gorgeous views of the mountain, but the lakes were still mostly covered with snow. Several feet of snow. We could see how deep it was because here and there patches had melted away revealing spots of grass or lake below. This, however, would end up being a very good thing.
When you visit Mount Rainier National Park, you are asked to PLEASE stay on the path. The meadows are very fragile, and walking on them compacts the soil making it harder for those gorgeous wildflowers and other vegetation to grow. But there’s this viewpoint by Little Tipsoo that’s sooo tempting!
When there’s snow on the ground you can walk around without restriction. The snow protects the meadow, so with the ground covered in snow, we were able to go right up to the edge of Little Tipsoo lake without doing any harm.
We were careful to avoid areas that looked a bit soft. We didn’t want to end up in water if the snow gave way! We found a great spot with a reflection of the mountain and waited for the wind to die down. After a while the water became clear and calm, and I took lots of pictures.
We had fun exploring around the area. The colors were incredible! Deep blue sky. Bright blue pools of water in the snow. Vivid green moss surrounding the stream of water coming from the ground.
Chinook Pass (HWY 410) usually opens up around Memorial Day weekend. It can vary from year to year depending on the amount of snow, and weather conditions in the spring. You can get an update on road conditions here:
https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/chinook
On to the next adventure!