One could not ask for a more lovely morning, nor a finer finishing route to such a trip. I awoke to the sun coming over the horizon at the far end of the valley miles away. The morning mist catching its yawning rays and the mountains still cradling parts of the night. I lazily rose to this vision as some backpackers passed by the Crest, then through the gate I went to descend the other side.
The descent began with hairpin switchbacks overlooking the interior of Rainier Park. Its namesake crown looming over its surrounding peaks wearing a snowcapped skirt draped with a cloudy shawl. As I ambled back down Chinook I took note of the sudden increase in moss, ferns, and other such signs of well watered ground. The drought was over.
My forested shade not only persisted down this side of the mountain but increased and offered cool winds complementing the warmth of the sun. It was a long walk that went unnoticed mentally as I wandered back out of the park by noon. Here I found a Ranger station at the base where I could fetch water for a meal. I went in just seeking water and was provided a full kitchen complete with faucet and stove to cook on, not to mention indoors to eat in and company to talk to. Realizing I was hauling food I no longer needed I cooked up two of my dinners to lighten my load and fill me up a bit more. I also got some coffee from the Ranger and bought a Mt. Dew and 100,000 Grand candy bar.
I stayed for about an hour and a half chatting it up with the Ranger. He seemed a cool guy, schooling in Seattle, and told me Buzzy’s was the place to go in Greenwater ahead. The rest of the way the road leveled out again and my thoughts drifted back into fantasy land from the fairy forest surroundings.
Twelve miles later was Greenwater. As I got into town the Ranger pulled up next to me saying I was making good time. Buzzy’s was closed so I looked to the next place, the Naches Tavern, and asked him how that was. With a shrug he seemed to disapprove but it was the only option. I offered to have dinner with him but he was up for getting home.
Inside the Naches Tavern I saw the reason for the shrug. It was mainly a bar with a menu providing two sandwich options. The coffee was fairly awful and when I got my pastrami sandwich with chips it looked like it belonged in a sandwich bag and the chips numbered up to about twelve. Then I was hit up for the $8.80 and disappointment was complete. Ah well, they can’t all be good.
I went another five miles out of town before seeking out a spot. Here was where I was returned to the joy from the lush forests of the east and was able to tuck away into the trees and ferns behind a hollow to camp out hidden like a woodland creature. I had reception again so I spent much of the evening talking with my aunt, Angie, and my sister before bedding down.