On the Saturday of our recent trip to visit family in Washington, my side of the family trekked to Mount Rainier.  Husband and I have explored there a few times but there are so many different hikes and waterfalls there that we would need many more trips to see them all!

People seemed to be taking advantage of the precious sunny weather to visit Rainier as there were lines to get into the park, lines for parking, lines for the bathrooms (even the rancid port-a-potties that smelled worse than 3 dead skunks --which we have run into in Arizona)....

Our first stop in Mount Rainier National Park was one that husband and I made on our first trip to Mount Rainier together: Carter Falls Trailhead. We've contented ourselves with never venturing past the riverbed though, preferring to go higher up along the mountain for hiking.

This makeshift log-bridge takes you over a fast, rushing stream of melted ice.

My parents!

And here we are blocking bridge traffic...

I took a picture of my mom taking a picture of my brother taking a picture...

After Mount Rainier, we BBQ'd at home and Callie and I proceeded to eat 5 pounds of BBQ. Consequently, I gained 7.6 pounds on this short trip home!

Dexter, the pigeon my parents rescued when he was a baby. He won't go away and follows my parents  everywhere when they are outside. I have funny parents!