Sizzling sun, snowy slopes

The trend is approaching statistical significance; whenever I have people over from Sweden the Emerald City pampers us with gorgeous weather. Patrik arrived on Tuesday and Seattle responded with a new heat record of 34 C/94 F. Jeez! I'm not complaining or anything, but really..?

(Okay, I am sort of complaining; It was very hot.)

Today the temperature was more agreeable as Amelia joined Patrik and me for a roadtrip to Mount Rainier National Park, where the plan was to hike along the Wonderland Trail from the Fryingpan Creek bridge to Panhandle Gap. Fully equipped with burritos, cookies, energy bars, trail mix, Rainier cherries, sunscreen, bug spray, fist aid kits, spare clothing, and tons of water, we eventually had to admit defeat and turn back close to Summerland. Why? Because of snow. The running shoes we were all wearing just weren't fit for climbing the steep hillside, skidding in the slushy snow. Getting up there safely: maybe. Going down: not so much.

Still, the 12 km round trip provided plenty of amazing views and we had a wonderful time in the national park, as well as on the way there and back.

I absolutely definitely totally need to do this again. Thumbs up!