NACHES LOOP HIKE AUGUST IN JUNE 2015

It's no secret that last winter was a low snow pack year for Washington 's Olympic and Cascade mountains.  Combine that with a number of days with temperatures in the 75 to 85 degree range and you have conditions in the mountains on June 10th that look more like late July or even early August.  On the Naches Peak Loop trail in Mt. Rainier NP this is especially evident.  Streams are dry and ponds are noticeably smaller.  Flowers are in bloom that would usually be waiting for the snow to melt.  While Washington's mountains did get a somewhat average precipitation this winter most fell as rain in the area below 5,000 feet resulting in the very low snow pack.  Less runoff for Puget Sound....ya that's the marine link in this post.  :)

In June this lake should still be snow covered
 

Editor limps along...beats staying home every time

The shrinking pond
 

Tiger Beetle

Leaf blower amid the silence of Mt. Rainier NP