Alder Lake at Sunset on
the drive in to Rainier
Sunday 7/22
The next morning came far, far too early for the bleary-eyed
among us[i].
Stories of the night before were swapped between the ladies and the men, and
those that had crashed at the house went out for a nice brunch at yet another
picture perfect little urban café[ii].
After a nap, we picked up our rental car for the next couple
days’ trip to Mount Rainier National Park, and ventured into the flagship REI
store for some canister stove gas[iii].
I tend to make fun of REI a lot, even though I admittedly shop there too, for
selling image-based products to folks with too much disposable income[iv].
Some of what they sell is straight up hardcore gear. But a lot of it is sexy
brand name, silly “technology” jargon stuff that commands a higher price tag
not due to some perceived better quality or “performance”, but primarily
because of the image that accompanies it[v].
The flagship store, however, was pretty damn awesome. Not only was it huge, but
it had waterfalls cascading around its exterior in places, and rock gardens.
Its multiple floors were reminiscent of the warehouse at the end of
Raiders…blurring to an imperceptible infinity of outdoor gear. I don’t get
impressed by REI much, but this was an impressive REI.
REI Flagship, from
street view. Yes, that’s a three story indoor climbing wall.
My wife’s brother, the erstwhile groom Dave, decided to
accompany us down to Rainier on a whim, so we all set out towards Rainier,
racing against the light, which was fading pretty fast at this point. There
were some absolutely heartbreaking moments along the way where we passed
scenery that was lit up with the most amazing, golden and diffuse light, but
couldn’t stop for pictures in our rush to get in before dark. Driving past
Alder Lake, I frantically held by cell phone camera to the window to try to get
even a blurry picture of the magnificent lightshow going on[vi].
Alder Lake at Sunset pseudo panoramic, Alder Lake at Sunset (II),
As it turned out, we probably should have just stopped, because we arrived in the dark. And cold. I was not prepared for temperatures in the 40’s in late July[vii]. However, a couple of degrees didn’t dampen my enthusiasm as we passed under that storied park entrance sign. That being said, we didn’t waste any time setting up camp in the dark[viii] and getting hunkered down in sleeping bags, stopping only to scarf down a quick impromptu meal of leftover sandwiches and chicken fingers.
Mount Rainier National Park Entrance sign (photo
courtesy of Flickr user Adam Fagen/Afagen)
Notes:
[i]
There’s nothing like tequila to tell you how very old you have become without
realizing it.
[ii]
One almost got the feeling in that neighborhood that one was consistently on a
well lit and immaculately staged movie set for some romantic comedy or another.
Everything was just so nice. And well lit, did I mention that? Must be the
oppressive rainy darkness of most of the year there driving them all to focus
on interior lighting. I bet the hipsters have delved into that as well, maybe
scoffing over GE bulbs, incorporating vintage arc lights, and identifying with
numerous light sub-genres, each more ridiculously specific than the last. “Oh,
you like Edisonian-era bulbs? They’re ok for most people, I guess. I’m really
into gas lights. You haven’t really seen anything until you’ve seen it by
gaslight.”
[iii]
Because apparently carrying canisters of flammable, explosive gas on planes is
a no-no in post 9/11 America. Luckily, we kind of figured this was the case
ahead of time and planned ahead.
[iv]
Or poor impulse control. I have been both.
[v] My
favorite find there was a cotton t-shirt by a brand name. It had about a three
pound booklet attached to it relating, with breathless delight, its numerous “performance
technologies”. When you bothered to read past the jargon, it’s primary “technologies”
were: 1) being a vaguely human-shaped shirt, 2) being made out of cotton, 3)
having 3 cents worth of thread sewn in the pattern of a corporate logo on its
front. Retail? $60. If I am going to spend $60 on a t-shirt, it’s
“technologies” better include “jetpack” and “+10 charsima”. However, carping
aside, I too have known the appeal of sexy new gear. I just have to laugh at
the over-application of “performance” as a term to sell image.
[vi] I
have had inordinately lucky drives in to National Parks. Light really makes the
landscape, and our drives in to Arches, Zion (especially), and Haleakala have
had the amazing luck to catch once-in-a-lifetime light just at its afternoon
peak of amazingness.
[vii]
I was pretty well supplied for layers of clothing, but had brought my 40 degree
summer weight sleeping bag, mostly because it packs down to almost a
singularity. This was a mistake.
[viii]
Where I saw my first new species of the trip, an unassuming Deermouse.
Comically, when I had looked up dangerous animals and plants at Rainier, the
deermouse had popped up. Not for its overwhelming physical presence, but for
its tendency to carry and spread hantavirus in its feces.
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