August 31, 2002, Mt. Rainier, Lower Paradise Gl.

After having said I would meet folks on Sunday I soon realized that a Sat. ski was necessary as it was the last day of August and I needed to get the month in. Todd and I left Seattle at 0'dark thirty for the drive, stop at the Bakery, to Rainier. The parking lot at Paradise was half full and we found no cars at the trailhead. A 1 1/2 hour carry brought us to the snow, the previous visit in June we skined almost from the car. Skis came off once and we then were at the top of the run.Three runs were enough, two were on firm sun cups while one was as close to smooth corn as you could get this day. A nice little stroll through wild flowers, Penstemon, Mimlus and Lupin to name a few, brought us back to car where the Paradise parking lot and Paradise vally road were choked with cars.

Paul Smith