The Road to Paradise is Closed

My day yesterday ended with this fabulous sunset glowing at my campsite.

My intention was to drive to Paradise, but a ranger told me the road to paradise was closed. So I have indefinitely postponed going to paradise. However, upon every curve in the switchbacks and every step on the hikes I experienced a slice of heaven.

My first stop was Tipsoo Lake which had beautiful vistas of Mountain Rainer, fields of flowers, and a trial around the lake. The hot weather broke over night and it felt good to hike in a sweatshirt-the first time since I left home.

My next stop was Ohanapecosh Visitor Center where I found old growth forests with trees dressed in moss and adorned with lichen.  The trees were towering and the forest dense with moss and ferns as ground cover.  It was a pleasant hike until I was stung by something, presumably a bee, but better a bee than to be bit by a bear.   The assailant chased me back down the trial.

The lichen made me laugh as I thought of my dad. One of my favorite pictures of him was him putting a big wad of lichen on his chin while making a goofy face. He looked like a hillbilly that needed a shave. Miss him. He would have loved this adventure that I am taking.

Next stop: Tacoma to visit a seminary friend, Joanna, who I have not spent significant time with since we graduated in 1987.