A Ramble with my Middle Daughter on the Burroughs Mountain Loop Trails out of Sunrise Village, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington,
Thursday 25 July 2019
Kate goofin’ for her Dad’s camera. Posin’ on the Burroughs Loop Trails at Mt. Rainier one hot Thursday in July of 2019 waaay back yonder in the early 21st Century C.E.
Ti’Swaq’, the Mountain that Wipes the Sky, or simply, The Sky Wiper, as the Alliance to Restore Native Names wants to call Mt. Rainier, looms above the surrounding Cascade Mountains to 14,411 feet or 4,392 meters in elevation. Taken from Sunrise Point.
Kate and I planned a dayhike, and it took awhile to jumble our stuff together into one car. I had to take a bus to the UW Huskey Stadium light rail station with my backpack, then take the train south to meet her at Rainier Beach Station while she drove north to meet me there. Logistics were barmy nutters. We grumbled and laughed and made things work out anyway. Especially as we had to scoot on back to North Seattle to meet the rest of our Seattle family for Dylan’s farewell picnic. My oldest was soon to ride across the continent with a friend and move to New York City for grad school. Meanwhile, however, Kathryn and I were in the here-now of Mt. Rainier National Park.
What happens when Daddy doesn’t pay attention to what shoes he grabs outa the closet in the dark. I didn’t realize this ridiculously comical error until I was in the parking lot at Sunrise Village. Ended up wearing my worn Chaco sandals I drove up in out on the hike. Glad Katie & I weren’t on a more serious climb! Worn my Chacos on plenty of hikes in the past. They’re old & worn out now, tho, & pebbles & grit tend to get caught between sole of foot & top o’ sandal. But how in the world?! Two Altra trail shoes! Same brand, aye, but for the same left foot and two very different models, HA!