One of my absolute favorite things about being a military family is the opportunity to see places I otherwise may have never thought about seeing. We have lived in three of the four corners of this country, and the journey from one place to the next always includes lots of adventure in between. Not to mention, once we arrive at our destination, we are presented with a completely new region to explore. Washington state was definitely a NEW region in terms of landscape, weather, and culture. Chris and I both feel extremely fortunate to have been able to experience that part of America. We have been able to step outside of our southern roots, which I am sooo proud of btw, and soak up other ways of life. Living outside your comfort zone in such a way is extremely eye-opening and such an opportunity for growth! Just in that corner of the US, we were able to shoot up to Canada, or cruise down the coast line into Oregon, not to mention the short flights into Cali. Truly incredible.
The pictures in this post are from one of our adventures while living in the pacific northwest: a day hike around Mt. Rainier. Mt. Rainier is not just any old mountain… it’s actually a volcano. That region of the country is littered with them. Most people think of Mt. St. Helens, but there are over 20 volcanoes in that same Washington/Oregon region. Crazy to think about, right? We lived in the state capital of Olympia, and on a clear day, which can be few and far between 😉 , you can see Rainier towering over the tree line. It really is something to behold. I am not exaggerating when I say it literally took my breath away the first time I saw it. What makes Rainer so majestic from afar is the fact that there are no other mountains, or mountain ranges next to it, so it looks as if it’s randomly shooting out from the ground. Rainier also has an elevation of over 14,000 feet, which adds to the grandness. GIANT!
Close up, Rainier is just as majestic. We went on this hike in July, so of course the temperature permitted shorts and a tank, but as you hike up the trail, you find yourself faced with a huge glacier that you have to walk across if you want to keep going on the path. Talk about crazy to see! Of course, you can’t hike to the top without proper gear, and a guide, but you can hike all around the mountain. Don’t worry, you’re able to hike high enough to ensure taking some AMAZING photos! When you hike Rainier in the summer, expect to see lots of evergreens, beautiful wildflowers, wildlife, glaciers, and other volcanoes in the distance. It truly is a site worth experiencing. Like I said before, I feel incredibly blessed to have opportunities such as this. 🙂
Namaste on this rock and pretend like I know what I’m doing.
This little guy was not intimidated by my husband’s 6’5″ frame. :/
Wildflowers were everywhere! Insert Heart Eyes Emoji!
Who’s that cute hiker?!?! 😉
Yep, I’m on a glacier.
The the above picture, you can see Mount Adams off in the distance to the left.
The small specs on the left side of the picture above are people practicing their skills in order to summit Rainer sometime in the future.
Just looking at these pics makes me want to go back. Summertime in the pacific northwest is sooo beautiful. If you ever have an opportunity to move to, or visit, the Seattle area, this is one destination that needs to be included on your itinerary. Trust me, it’s worth the trip!
Thanks for stopping by!
Megan
Outfit details: Tank, Shorts, Sports Bra, and Sneakers are all Nike. Visor: Vineyard Vines. Sunglasses: Rayban
