September, 2025
On my last day camping at Cougar Rock (for this year anyway), I drove back to a couple of favorite spots that were close-by, and I walked through the campground one last time, and talked with several people including the park rangers. The entire campground goes to “first-come-first-served” campsites, no reservations, by the middle of September since it’s getting cold up there even during the day, and it’s really cold at night, and no campsites have electricity. The entire campground will close in early October, close completely for the winter. So there aren’t many campers up here this time of year. I had a good time checking out lots of empty campsites and making note of the ones that I might like to stay in during a future camping trip here.
I didn’t take many photos today, this last day. So instead of sharing just those few photos with you, let me share a few of my favorite photos from this week that I haven’t already shared with you.
In the photo above, the big white truck is parked on the side of the road so I could get out and look at this river bed. I’m told that part of a glacier used to come this far down, years ago, but that now the glacier no longer comes this far down so trees are starting to grow back.
There were four or five of these little rivers running down among the rocks. I was surprised how loud the rivers were, maybe because of the movement of rocks in the water.
It sure was a pretty place.
The photo above was taken when I was up at Paradise. The flowers and greenery were so beautiful, such a gorgeous complement to the mountain.
The photo above was on a sign outside the Lodge at Paradise. The little triangular “huts” are actually on the roof of the second floor of the building! The entire first story of the building was completely blocked by snow, except for one door at the end of the building that was kept clear of snow for access. The Lodge is open year round. My blog page with a photo of the Lodge with NO snow on it is https://www.travelswithtowhee.com/cougar-rock-up-to-paradise/. And here below are two more snow information signs located at the Lodge.
Speaking of glaciers receding over the years, the photo below is of the headwaters of the Nisqually River. The glacier that feeds the river used to come all the way down, completely covering the valley from side to side, all the way down past where I was standing on a bridge to take the photo below. I hate climate change. But I drive a big white truck that pollutes. Sigh.
Ah, but here below is a lovely little river that hasn’t changed in MANY decades, so I’m told by some local folks who live nearby who happened to be walking there when I was there.
And, there are so many mountains here, not just Mt. Rainier. There are so many that most of them don’t have a name.
But, mostly, it’s all about Mt. Rainier. The steps and stone walkway in the photo below are right outside the visitor center and so are very popular for a short hike. The words at the bottom of the photo truly are engraved in the stone steps. While I was here, I took photos of probably a dozen different families, or single people, using their phones to take the photos, of them standing above or to the side of those words. Everyone loved it. Me too. 🙂
Over to the side of those steps above, was a pathway, with benches. This family from Japan was sitting, talking, enjoying the day. They didn’t speak much English, but just enough that I could understand. They’d just returned from quite a lengthy hike, were about to go into the visitor center and have some lunch, when this Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel ran out to them and continued to run in between their feet. I tried to get a video of the squirrel but I couldn’t keep up with her, she was too fast! One of the women gave me her email address and I emailed the photo below to her.
Late one afternoon, late in the week here, I opened the curtain on the trailer window that’s on the road side of the trailer. I usually keep that curtain closed for privacy. I looked out the window … wow, Mt. Rainier! I knew I could see the mountain if I walked 15 feet away from the trailer, but I hadn’t realized I could see it from inside the trailer.
Another day, actually one of the first days that I was here, I was outside my trailer exploring the woods that were close to me. I found these two stumps, of trees that had been cut down. They do that in campsites if there is any question about the health of a tree and any danger of one being blown down while there are campers nearby. But look who jumped up onto the tree stump ….
Little Towhee! My little Towhee bird camping buddy. At first I thought those tan pieces of debris on top of the stump were wood chips. Little Towhee corrected me. They are autumn leaves that had fallen there from the surrounding trees. Little Towhee is one smart bird.
We walked around a bit more, a little deeper into the woods and found this more natural spot.
We both just sat and enjoyed the woods, other birds chirping, and this wonderful autumn day.
Eventually, on this last day, it was time to hitch up. I often do that in the late afternoon of my last day so I don’t have to do that in the morning if it’s raining in the morning. Ok, all is good, I’m all hitched up.
The weather the next morning was gorgeous, same as it had been all week. It was such a pleasant drive home. Towhee the Trailer is back in her storage spot. Little Towhee the bird and I are home doing laundry, paying bills, and looking through the photos, with super good memories.
And, I am going to see if I can find a professional print-making company and have a copy made from my original large-resolution copy of the photo below, then have it matted and framed for my wall. What a blessing to have seen it first-hand myself. Life is so wonderful.
I love seeing Little Towhee. Thank you.
You are welcome! 🙂
Wow, the snow!!! And yes, Little Towhee. 🙂
🙂 Thanks Susan.
Yes, the snow!! And Little Towhee. 🙂 But the other photos/subjects are super too. Here’s to that Japanese family, and the squirrel. And … oh my … that mountain.
Lisa, can’t agree with you more, the whole trip, everything was wonderful.
Really like photo #4 and #5, and the snow info, and the Japanese folks, welcome!
In the end, it’s all about the mountain … stunning photos!!! Truly.
Ok, yes Little Towhee too, smart cookie. 🙂
Thanks Paul. Very nice comment, made me smile … and Little Towhee too. 🙂
Such a beautiful place. Probably would be cold in a tent!
Oh yes! Cold in a tent unless you have a remote (outside the tent) propane heater that has a hose feeding heat into your tent, which I just learned from some neighbors of mine that they have when they go tent camping in cold weather. Wow, the lap of luxury.
The glaciers up here in BC, Canada, are receding too, and the river water levels are lower because of that. It’s a serious concern. But we still have underground water where we hear the US is losing that as well. Thanks for showing both sides, the troubling things and the marvelously wonderful things. That mountain is spectacular. And Little Towhee is a gem. 🙂
Jim
That’s what I read, Jim. It will be the country that has the most fresh water that, in the end, wins. So far, that’s Canada with its HUGE amounts of underground water. Thanks for the comment. Little Towhee is grinning. 🙂
I sure like your photos better than listening to the fireworks this evening, 4th of July. I’m a Vietnam vet and watched buddies die from the sounds of bombs and gunfire. It isn’t fun!!! Sure wish the USA would pursue peace instead of aggression, and celebrate peace instead of warfare.
But your photos are fun! I love them. That snowfall is amazing. Little Towhee is excellent, makes me smile. And that mountain, don’t even have words for it.
Thank you.
Joe, I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad you made it home. I hurt for those men and women who didn’t, and for those who love them. Yes … peace. Let’s celebrate peace. My best to you and yours.
You are welcome. And thank you!
Me too, Joe. Fireworks aren’t fun, they hurt, they bring a lot of people a lot of pain, a reminder of number ten thousand.
But Ann’s blog and photos and stories bring me happiness and something to think about that balances out the other sh-t. I like how Ann likes and helps all people she meets from all over the world. There are lots of people just like Ann all over the world, I’m hangin’ my hat on them.
Ah Tim, read my reply to Joe. I say the same thing to you. I’m sure glad you’re here. I’m glad you made it home. I hurt for the men and women who didn’t, and for those who love them. I’ll hang my hat on you too, Tim. Thank you!
I was there as a nurse, not front line, but I sure saw the results and I too am not at all comfortable with fireworks. Glad you guys came home.
And, yes, Ann’s blog is so joyful, also truthful yes, but also so uplifting. Her photos are amazing. Sure shows a side of life that we all need to focus on yes? I’d bet Ann has her share of sh-t too. Maybe even “Little Towhee” has bad days, yes? 🙂
Thank you for producing this blog Ann. It feels really comfortable here.
I love that saying by John Muir. And I love that last photo. Well, ok, I love Little Towhee too. 🙂
My word, you must have seen horrible things Olivia. I’ve read a few books about that war. I’m glad you made it home too, some nurses didn’t. Yep, I have my share of sh-t too. 🙂 But not like you folks did over there. Thank you for such a thoughtful comment.
Little Towhee says hi. 🙂 We both send our best.
Thank you Ann for all you do here. The respect you show everyone, the love for the planet, and the joy while exploring all of that. Here’s to Towhee the Trailer, and to Little Towhee too, and to you.
I like photo #9 above, tho #10 is really impressive, and of course the last photo, the reflection of Mt. Rainier. Ah, but Little Towhee is so wonderful. 🙂
Thank you Eileen. Your comment made me smile, and made me feel humble. I’m really just being myself, so it feels good to read your words. Ah, that mountain in photo #10 was truly stunning to me too … no name to it, just a monster mountain. Little Towhee says “chip chip!” 🙂
These pictures are just breathtaking! You always know how to make every post come alive with your photos. I always look forward to your posts because of the amazing photos you include — you have such a great eye for capturing the beauty of every place. Keep them coming!
Thank you Martha, what a nice comment! Nice to hear from you here. Hope all is good with you. 🙂