Marmot Posing

We woke up n the middle of last night to thunder and lightning - so much for the dry spell we are having. And Mt. Rainier was not to be seen behind socked in clouds. but we were here to hike so we set off on the trail that goes up by the glaciers--it was extraordinarily beautiful with the foggy conditions and the colors of the wildflowers. The sub alpine meadows were breathtakingly drop dead gorgeous! with the amount and variety of flowers everywhere. We never did see the mountain this day - (we once were hiking on the 93 mile Wonderland trail and met some folks doing the whole 10-11 day circuit who were on day 10 and had yet to see the mountain!) but we had a wonderful time on the trail in the fog and the wind, crossing several small patches of leftover snow. Several groups passed us on the way to Camp Muir, the launching spot for the next day climb to the 14,410 ft summit if conditions are acceptable .(I'm afraid this was not one of those times...) Panorama point was a whiteout. But H's brother and s-i-l, who hike a lot in the Rockies in Colorado, pronounced it a peak experience anyway, mostly due to the sheer beauty of the flowers and trees. (will blip some later.)
And this air is more typical anyway. --altho it did not rain on us.

However, I have to blip Mr. Marmot. In all of our years in the mountains I have never had one pose like this for me, and hold it for minutes! Doesn't he look fat and ready for winter?