Owyhigh
Owyhigh! As in Owyhigh Lakes, named after the Yakama chief, Owhi. Also known as my surprise destination for a one-nighter backpacking trip in Mt Rainier (Tahoma) National Park. I unfortunately don't have the foresight to reserve wilderness permits months in advance, so it's luck of the draw when showing up at the ranger station the morning of. And I had luck for this draw! Forgive me, because I took many many pictures, and I can't seem to whittle them down to an easily digestible post. This may have been a factor in my abandonment of instagram...
Climbing my way up through some nice old primarily Western Hemlock forest (I might have taken these on the way down, but it's better for the story if they go here 🙂)
Unique bark that befuddled me at the time. Now identified as Western White Pine and Noble Fir.
The forest also featured Twinflower, Pink Wintergreen, and a Cascades Frog!
After setting up camp at Tamanos Creek, I got my first glimpse of the lakes and the beautiful meadows teeming with Pasqueflower, Western Columbine, and all the rest. But it was still early, and I couldn't resist the trail that ran straight up the western slope. Tahoma awaited beyond!
A brutal climb, but my reward was absolutely ridic views! Tahoma in all her glory! Pahto/Klickitat on the horizon! And the valleys below! I sat for hours, fighting off various gangs of mosquitoes, taking it all in.
Although the views are grand, its the little guys that seal the deal. Edith's Checkerspot fluttering about, Spreading Phlox looking lovely as always, multiple of varieties of Mountain Heather and Paintbrush putting in work, etc.
The views on my descent of the ridge continued to be fairly ridic. Much easier to take it all in when not slogging upwards in the midday sun.
Back at the lakes, the sun was right where I wanted it.
Had to take a bit of horizontal time in my tent to recoup from my journey, much to the interest of this Blacktail. 😦
By this late hour I was feeling a real hunger, so I borrowed my camp neighbor's stove (mine sat forgotten at home), heated up dinner, and rushed back out to watch the evening reflections open up an interdimensional portal through one of the lakes. Nice!
The softly lit post-sunset landscape is especially photogenic, and it's the best time for critter finding.
Lots of False Hellebore (not a critter)!
Critters! And my first close black bear encounter! But it didn't even acknowledge me... That's okay :P
Packed out in the morning, but wasn't ready to leave, so I drove up to Sunrise to get one last good look at the mountain, and boy does it look good. 🤩
Really everyone was looking their best up there. Clark's Nutcracker, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Chipmunk, Pika, Marmot, Pine Siskin. All our favorites!
