Does anyone remember back in January when I had my first public, “I can’t even” moment? For those of you that don’t know what this means, (mom) it’s an abused phrase that I really can’t stand, yet found myself using…again.
A phrase used when something is so monumental that “I can’t even” think of words to describe how I feel. All that comes out is “I can’t even.”
I was so enraptured by the wonder that is Mount Rainier that I really had no words, just feelings. Lots of feelings. Like the kind you get when you are eating cake.
I’d been wanting to make my way to Mount Rainier National Park for quite some time now. On most of my hikes this volcanic mountain is what I search for off in the far distance as it’s the highest mountain in Washington.
It was indescribable to be this close to it.
This park is so big that I was overwhelmed with where to start exploring. Thankfully I have adventurous friends that also like to explore, and when one of them asked if I wanted to go hike a specific trail I didn’t think twice before saying yes.
Plus my dad appreciates when I take a buddy.
Burroughs mountain trail brought me to the view in most of the photos above. I felt almost close enough to touch the top, yet we were only halfway there. The peak of this active volcanic mountain is 14,410 ft above sea level, and we were merely at the 7400 ft mark. We were like ants in a sea of evergreen trees.
Because you gotta drink a Rainier while next to Rainier.
Unless you don’t drink beer, then eat a Larabar.
The Burroughs trail brought us to this view, but I wanted more. The thing about Rainier National Park is there are trails..everywhere. Literally days of exploration.
A fire lookout sat atop an adjacent mountain, and I wanted to see the view from it.
That was a great decision on my part.
A perfect shot to celebrate independence day.
This adventure filled my soul with 5 hours and 8.2 miles of mountain goodness. I can’t wait to get back and explore even more. Next time I want to camp.
I started a pin collection, because I’m too lazy to work with patches. Now I need to get my fanny to more national parks and get my bag some legit bling. I also bought a mug because coffee tastes better in a good mug, and because I fell prey to the tourist traps.
Yea, that coffee tasted like adventure.
Q: Have you been to a national park in or near your state?
Blissfulbritt 
70 thoughts on “Mount Rainier”
rainb0wbubbles
Beautiful Photos!
Chatter
Absolutely stunning!!!
Jessica @ VEGGIE RUNNING MOMMA
Gorgeous pictures.!!! 😀
I could spend all day at a place like that. I’m sure you could too.! and did. lol
Jessica
Coffee that tastes like adventure is the best coffee.
Brittany
Amen my friend.
Nicole Marie Story
your back looks amazzzzzing. the energy of your post is so contageous. mwah:)
Brittany
From a strong yogi like yourself, that’s the best compliment I could receive. ❤
pickyrunner
So gorgeous. I guess we have mountains like that at home, but they don’t look as pretty. Maryland has…nothing.
Brittany
I went on a cool hike with Megan and Sophie in Maryland!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Amazing!! To see Rainier up so closely – a dream. Gorgeous.
morgangleave
Lovely! We have a beautiful country park, Bradgate Park, near us in the UK, which we visit often. Trees, deer and rocks, it’a a wonderful place to walk in, especially with our dog, Fizz!
The Freckled Runner
awesome pictures!
Britt's mom
Amazingly beautiful pictures. You were there when you were about a year old. don’t you remember? 🙂 And I ‘know’ what ‘I can’t even’ means. I’ve used it a few times. :p Really you should submit some of your pics somewhere. You are developing into quite the photographer.
Brittany
Thanks mom, you’re too kind.
herbieontherun
Oh that’s gorgeous! Definitely on my bucket list. There’s a state park a few hours from here (Fall Creek Falls) that I’ve never been to, but I’m hoping to get there this summer!
Amanda Afield
Beautiful hike! I live in the Lake District national park in the UK, so even my commute to work is beautiful, and there’s never a shortage of hikes.
runner1313
Just gorgeous! I’ve been many times, and it never gets old.
50statecanuck
Gorgeous!!!
The Divine Hostess
I am eating organic rainier blueberries. These pictures look INCREDIBLE!
harveylisam
Oh man, I would LOVE to hike there! It looks stunning. I’ll get there someday soon, I’m sure 🙂
GiGi Eats Celebrities
Dude but serious – I can’t even. You live in one of the prettiest areas in the US (aside from Jackson Hole, he he he)… You’re so damn lucky. Sure, I am not all that outdoorsy as you know, but I will take YOUR VIEWS over MY homeless peers view ANY DAY of the week… Except Sunday? lol
Brittany
You’ll see it ALLLL when you come visit!
B
I’m very jealous of this hike. I might try and do a small one this weekend.
Paul Ruchlin
FANTASTIC!!! I momentarily thought you were headed to the summit. Two weeks from tomorrow I start my very own western adventure which will take me to Badlands, Mt Rushmore, Devil’s Tower, Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier, Mt St Helens, Mt Hood, Crater Lake, Craters of the Moon, Arches/Moab and Dinosaur Natl Monument, before I head home. 7 weeks on the road. CAN’T WAIT.
And I’ll be adding a few coffee mugs to my collection! 🙂
Brittany
WOW!! What a trip. I’m insanely jealous, and can’t wait to read all about it!
Natalie @ The Ravenous Mommy
You really make me miss hiking 🙂 My friend just hiked to the summit of Mt. Rainier this past weekend! It looks beautiful
Brittany
Wow, amazing! That is no easy feat.
allisonfiorini
Sooooo lovely ❤ Really stunning shots! A few years ago, we drove along a road where we could have seen Mt. Rainier, but it was hiding in the clouds that day…what a sight you got to experience!
Jess @hellotofit
I’m repeating myself (I think), but that view is absolutely amazing!! I’ve never hiked near/to/around a place that stunning. Sure makes ya feel small when you can see how much more there is to the world, right?
kathy at real talk
LOVE!!!! such amazing photos and you’re so lucky to have hiked that
jennifer prod
i wanna jump into these pictures and join you for the mountain goodness. i have a feeling i’m gonna be even more jealous if you make that camping goal a reality: i would love to wake up surrounded by all that gorgeousness.
joanfrankham
Beautiful photos.
Emma @em-poweredwellness
Beautiful! Mt. Rainier is on my list to go to!
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
Wow, just wow. Beautiful hike and pictures. I love your adventures! What a great experience.
Ellie
What a great way to spend Independence Day! There are a few parks near where I live, but I’m not sure if NY has a national park…I could google that but then I would want to go and I cannot afford a vacation now! My new favorite larabar is strawberry shortcake ❤ it's a summer flavor I'm glad I tried.
familyrulesbyplainjane
I love the pics! I had a walking stick I used as a kid. I would buy a tiny commemorative plate to nail onto it after each hike. This was common in Germany but I don’t know if people still do that.)
familyrulesbyplainjane
PS, I think it is great that you “let” your mom read and comment on your blog. My daughters think mine is dull as dishwater, and the one who blogs is keeping hers a state secret so I couldn’t read it even if I wanted to. Well, that is ok since she probably tattles on me, LOL. Just kidding–maybe?–I actually have a great relationship with my kids.
Brittany
My mom was one of the first few subscribers to my blog many moons ago! I love that she reads. 🙂
P
That is a great mug though!
Mt. Rainier looks so beautiful!!!
themauritiangeographer
Oh wow breathtaking. No national parks but I used to work in a nature reserve back in Mauritius. Best time of my life!
Jane
So different to my scenery here in sunny Brisbane! Stunning views. Beautiful pics, Brittany. 🙂
happynfull
Great photos, Britt! I love that you collect pins instead of patches — love the way your brain works. I’m going to have to steal that idea. =)
Amy
I do remember the first time you used that phrase! And how big of a deal it was. This definitely sounds like another good time to put it to use. Those gorgeous views!! Now that my parents have a cabin in the middle of a national park full of gorgeous hikes… I really don’t have any excuses (well, besides a 3-4 hour drive) for not hiking more. Hopefully I can make at least a trip or two this summer — you’ve inspired me!
Brittany
I can’t wait to explore with you at this cabin…
Lety C
Wow! This is a must! So glad that you take advantage of where you live. Absolutely beautiful place!
Lucie Elizabeth (@CollectingLight)
England is full of National Parks, but nowhere NEAR as beautiful as this!
Jessie
Wow! There are no words to describe the above photos other than stunning! I’m not sure when you first started hiking, but I do remember reading your blog when you first started documenting your hikes more often. You have seen some very beautiful parts of the country.
Aja
I haven’t been to Mt Rainier in a long time, and I’ve certainly never hiked it. The only people in my family who like to hike live in Montana and are old now. Beautiful pictures! I have a pin collection because patches are weird to me. Pins can move, patches are forever.
Brittany
I like your reasoning behind the pins, so true!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
What a stunning view. The photos kind of remind me of my hike in the alps, except a little drier. It looks amazing though.
karla @ finding my fit
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again-so jealous of all these parks and mountains you have near you. My soul longs for the mountains, sadly where I’m going they just have heat and humidity. Coffee always tastes better in a fun mug 😉
i’ve been to the grand canyon. that’s about it.
Food, Booze, & Baggage
Your pictures are stunning of Rainier! So awesome! Have you thought about doing the climb to the top of Rainer? My brother did it, but it seems too cold and scary for me. I’ve just started to do hiking but just don’t see myself getting that crazy 🙂
Brittany
The top is definitely on my bucket list!!
Rach @ This Italian Family
Gorgeous! Glad you have friends who are as adventurous as you are to explore with you! 🙂
Rebecca@RunningFoodBaby
Beautiful pictures!!
I live less than 30 minutes away from a National Park and we go all the time. BUT – it is no where as beautiful as Mt Rainier!
David Lazar
Funny story, BB – I was returning from 6 days backpacking, July 4th, from Glacier Basin to Sunrise (where you parked) via the Burroughs Mtn Trail. We were so close to meeting! I’ll be happy to help you with backpacking ideas when you’re ready. It’s an amazing trip, but also really tough. I’ll post some pics soon (they look a lot like yours!)
Brittany
WOW, what a small world!!! How funny. Speaking of posting photos, do you have an active blog?? The link back from your comments doesn’t seem to be used.
David Lazar
Indeed I do – I wonder why the link is not working! Here it is: https://cyclodavid.wordpress.com.
darwinontherocks
I understand your feeling, I had the same experience the first time I laid my eyes on Mount Rainier. Seeing this blue ice patch was just crazy and the patches of snow on the path in the middle of July, it was incredible !! It’s such a beautiful place !
I’m crazy about National parks, I’ve visited a lot in the US and I’m starting to visit some in the UK as well 🙂
veganvampirebites
WOW! We’ve been meaning to go here since last summer. We did Rattlesnake Ledge last Friday, and that was pretty cool. We definitely will be doing more hiking soon.
Jim Brennan
I have an intimate relationship with Mount Rainier. I got stranded in Seattle on 9-11 when air traffic was shut down nationwide, so I hiked Rainier up above Paradise. I still keep pictures I shot on my desk from that day, and devoted a chapter in my book to it. Mount Rainier will always be special, for its beauty, its power, and its spirit. Great photos, and great post, Brittany.
Brittany
What a perfect way to spend your time while stuck.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I can see why you’d almost have no words for this hike. The views are stunning. I would have drunk the Rainer and eaten the Lara Bar.
Leslie @ TriathleteTreats
Awesome photos!! It has been so gorgeous here in the PNW this year!!! My fave national park Is Crater Lake!!! Love Love Love it!!!
stateeats
Your photos are just beautiful. Have been to Mt Rainier several times and it is stunning. Now I want to go back! – Kat
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livevigorously
Ha, what a classic quote: “I was so enraptured by the wonder that is Mount Rainier that I really had no words, just feelings. Lots of feelings. Like the kind you get when you are eating cake.”
Thanks for the great preview – it’s on my list!
Brittany
Such a gorgeous mountain!!
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