Wildflowers Near Mount Rainier
September 14, 2012
The wildflowers are definitely one of the highlights of hiking the Naches Peak Loop Trail near Chinook Pass on Hwy 410. They peak in late summer, so this is still a great time to go and see them. Here are some photos of the wildflowers I saw along the trail:

I am not sure what this is — perhaps yellow dot saxifrage or slender mountain sandwort? Does anyone know?
Hiking Near Mount Rainier: The Naches Peak Loop Trail
September 13, 2012
I just had to take advantage of these last sunny days of summer to head to the mountains for a day hike. I love the Naches Peak Loop Trail for its stupendous views of Mount Rainier and its wildflowers as the trail meanders past several tiny sub-alpine lakes. This is an easy hike. Heading out on the trail just ahead of me was a family with a toddler in a backpack and a two-week old baby in a sling. I parked in the lot by Tipsoo Lake and headed clockwise up the trail so that I would have Mount Rainier in full view for the last part of the hike.
Here are some photos:

If you walk the trail clockwise, you’ll have this view of Mount Rainier on the latter part of the loop hike.