Same hike but totally different visual and physical experience!  What can happen in just 10 days? 

Well, so much snow fell over the last 10 days that the path down to Narada Falls is completely blocked by an 8-10 foot snow bank until summer.

Paradise River is either covered over with snow or greatly narrowed by high snow banks on either side of the river.  Same story for Paradise Falls.  Pictures of both of these locations, taken 10 days apart, demonstrate the change in terrain.  (1st picture was taken 10 days earlier than the 2nd picture)

A clearer view of Mt. Rainier at Reflection Lake and the view from the snow covered road that is along side the lake.

A close up of a Stellar Blue Jay shows the diamond blue markings on his forehead. This guy grabbed my sandwich out of my hand!

FIRST HIGHLIGHT: Watching the sun break through the clouds and shine on the pristine snow and trees, but not shine on the mountain. These two sunhine pictures were taken at the same spot. I simply turned around to get each shot.

SECOND HIGHLIGHT: Seeing a rare Cascade Fox as we were driving down the mountain. Isaac stopped for a few seconds and I reached over and shot six shots within 3 seconds!-not sharp, but unique! A forest ranger told me that the Cascade fox lives only between Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams in a partiuclar elevation and terrain. These two mountains are about 100 miles apart from one another. The likelihood of seeing this fox is a one in a million chance!

Enjoy these pictures capturing the winter wonderland.  (Okay, you have to be from a sunny warm place to really enjoy these- particularly for us who grew up near California beaches!)