My last trip to Mount Rainier was so monumental I couldn’t get back there quick enough. To round out the end of my 4 day weekend I wrangled up a hiking buddy and headed south. Hi-ho, hi-ho, it’s off to Rainier we go!
The weather was a perfect 75ish in the mountain range, with sun sun sun. The only clouds in the sky waited to make an appearance until we were ready to leave.
How kind, I made sure to thank them before we left. “Thank you clouds.”
This time I took a trail that led away from the mountain through fields of wildflowers, marmots, and enough chipmunks to build me a Cinderella like dress. The destination was Reflection Lake, I’ll let you figure out how it got its name.
Round trip we probably meandered for about 7 miles and ended up being spit out onto the road, where we discovered Reflection Lake was a spot most people drove to.
What can I say, I like to do things the hard way.
I’ve decided Rainier is one of my top spots for adventure these days. The endless trails enveloping this mountain require days of exploration.
One of my goals is to hike up to Camp Muir, the highest point you can climb without a climbing permit. Muir sits at a lovely 10,080 ft, and is a grueling 8 mile round trip climb. I hear it’s harder than a half marathon. Perhaps it’s a good thing I’ve got six of those under my belt.
After I accomplish Muir, to the top I must go.
Post Rainier shenangans my hiking partner was hung-ray so we stopped for a road side burger. I noticed a guy picking what looked like small green chickpeas from a nearby flower plant, and naturally had to inquire about what he was doing.
Turns out they were seeds for the above flower known as NASTURTIUMS. “One of the few edible flowers in this area.” And then he ate one…so I ate one too. Nothing like trusting a stranger at a small town burger stop eating flowers.
HO-LY SPI-CY. Like, peppery spicy. I Googled the flower and sure enough the flavor is described as: “peppery spice similar to watercress.” I don’t think I’ll be sprinkling these on my salads anytime soon. First hiking to a location that you can drive to, second eating flowers with strangers, clearly I like to live my life on the wild side. 😉
Q: Have you ever eaten edible flowers?
Blissfulbritt 
43 thoughts on “Mount Rainier – Reflection Lake”
mincs1
Great photos, Brittany! I love mountain hikes. Your comment about Nasturtiums is interesting – they are used routinely in salads in my area (Calgary).
Brittany
How funny!
whostardis
those photos are stunning!!! You are making me seriously want to plan a hiking trip, and I dont hike 🙂
runner1313
I’ve been to Rainier several times, and love it! My Mom just visited last weekend. She got back from an Alaskan cruise on Sunday morning, immediately went out and rented a car. Drove to Rainier for the afternoon, and then took a red eye back to the east coast later that night. That’s a big commitment just to spend a few hours with a mountain we all love.
Brittany
Your mom has great style.
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
B-E-A-UUUTIFUL! As usual. I have eaten an edible flower, it was on a salad, but it didn’t really taste like anything. Can’t wait to hear about you tackling Muir (which makes me think of David Muir on ABC World news, haha) and then the TOP!
willrunforpizza
Um, no. I could hear my Papa telling me that certain flowers are good for you, but I don’t think I could try it…
I really need to find a race in WA I think, so I can run along your gorgeous views.
Every time I show these hikes & pictures to my Hus, he says maybe we should move to WA instead of OR! haha. So magnificent.
Brittany
YAASSS come run a race here. 🙂
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Gah. Your pictures make me want to move to the PNW. And hike all the time. Brave you, trying strange flowers!! What an experience.
Amy
You are SO brave to eat that flower!! If I can’t find it at a grocery store or Farmer’s Market… I’m probably not eating it. But if that flower solved tummy troubles, I’d be all in! 😉 I love how adventurous you are and how many hikes you fit into your schedule. I’ve been on, uhh, 2 decent ones in the past year?… So sad — that needs to change!
charissarunning
Those mountains….the clear blue sky….the lake….the trees…it’s so beautiful there! I would probably eat a flower too as long as the stranger ate it first 😉
alittlebitoflaura
Can you please stop going to all of these beautiful places and taking amazing pictures and making me jealous? LOL kidding of course! I feel a sense of peace just looking at your pics! Love it!
Rach @ This Italian Family
I love that you ate the flower! You have such an adventurous spirit! Also, these photos… gorgeous as always.
Joe Newbold
Looks like a great hike, gorgeous scenery, I was in John Muirs house where he grew up in Scotland last week, what a co-inkidink 😄 have you tried zucchini flowers, lightly fry them mmmm
Brittany
How cool!! I have not had zucchini flowers, but I see them often. I need to try some!
allisonfiorini
Gorgeous hike! The lake with the reflection of the mountain – incredible! One of the markets by my house sells edible flowers. I always want to buy them but never know what to do with them!
Melanie
WOW, Mount Rainer is so so gorgeous! I would love to hike around there. Kev will be up in Seattle next week for business; I wish I could come with him and go on a hike!!! I’ve never ever had an edible flower before. I’d like to try one someday, but knowing me I’d end up accidentally eating a poisonous one. Ha ha.
A Carter
Beautiful pictures! I’m so jealous of where you live.
I was on a trail run the other day and suddenly was very sorry I didn’t bring any medjool dates along. I started getting really hungry and my blood sugar kinda fell. Thankfully, I ended up going through a field with clovers. I’ve eaten the purple clover flowers ever since I was a kid. Sometimes they’re really sweet with nectar. Anyway, I ate a bunch of those and was good to go! I probably would have eaten flowers with a stranger, too. I love finding out what I can eat that grows in the wild!
Brittany
Your story/comment wins this entire post. I imagined you eating the clovers, what an ingenious idea.
shellybartz
Lady… You simply MUST hike to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite in the spring when the waterfalls are flowing!!! You would love it!!!!!
Thx for sharing your fun!!!
Brittany
Half Dome is TOTALLY on my list!!
dave379
Beautiful! From my friend’s garden this year I had some broccoli flowers from the second growth broccoli after the first cutting, tastes kind of like broccoli. And also some chives flowers 🙂
Jess @hellotofit
Those photos are BEAUTIFUL. I am in awe. And nope, I’ve never had an edible flower. I’d be down to try one, though!
jswunxin
Lovely photographs! You seem to have conquered many mountains now. Love reading about your adventures 🙂
Ellie
I’ve had rose water before…but it was really expensive so I don’t think I’ll be doing it much. I have always wanted to learn when flora around my area are edible. Not that I ever need to eat it, but that I could use my knowledge to impress other people 😉
bearly
I ate blue bells in Alaska, they were pretty tasty, fireweed not so much.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
Wow! What a beautiful lake. All of your posts are making me even more excited to go hiking. I can’t wait!
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
That reflection is so clear and beautiful. Wow — you are really sparking my wanderlust spirit!
Tania // Run to Radiance
Wow!! So beautiful!!! Your photos make me feel like i’m right there. 🙂 I wish!!! I’ve eaten rose petals in an amazing chocolate truffle before but that’s about it. 😀
Jade
Oh my gosh I have to go to Rainier right now!! So beautiful. The last time I was there it was cloudy and sad.
Shawna
this is soooooo beautiful! i want to go where you go!! gahhh these hikes are killing me, girl.
di @ life of di.
So so beautiful! That reflection lake is just stunning. Love all the photos, as always! 😉 PS – I’ve had edible flowers on cupcakes before!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
I remember when I used to go hiking in WY a lot… There are Honeysuckle bushes and if you take the flower and squeeze it in your mouth, it tastes like honey – duh – so I used to do that a bunch! However, the last time I was in WY for the summer, hmmm you got me, like when I was 18 maybe? Goodness gracious that’s just pathetic.
And PS: I would be a far hotter hiking companion that that beef cake you took! 😉
fionajarrett
Beautiful pictures, it looks incredible. What a stunning day you had for your hike too! My Grandad has some nasturtiums in his garden… I must sneak a snack in next time I’m at his house 😉
Laur
I would never eat something on a trail without someone eating it before me haha. Knowing me, I would eat something poisonous, choke, and die. Hahaha
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
That lake is just gorgeous. And you’re crazy brave for trying random flowers on a trail! I’ve seen too many movies and read too many books to be comfortable with something like that 😛
stateeats
Gorgeous hike, wish I was there. I miss the mountains! Very adventurous of you to eat that flower! -Kat
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
My mom grows those flowers strictly for adding to her dishes and eating them. Crazy! They sure do look pretty in food. Maybe I should start growing some too.
I love all your hiking adventures. I think we’ll do one here in Ohio if you’re game, although we have no mountains so it’ll be a different kind of hike.
thehealthyfoodblogger
Britt, I love your blog and the “energy” it has and have nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger Award! Please check out my post, http://wp.me/p4Rb3P-188. Have a great day!
Jim Brennan
You are enticing me to summit Rainier next spring, Brittany. Keep it up.
jennifer prod
i didn’t know hiking permits were a thing? also, on edible flowers – they look pretty gosh dorn gorgeous floating around in cocktails or lattes 🙂
Lauren Rice (@heyricecake)
Wow, gorgeous views from that hike! Can’t wait to get out there and see them for myself! Also, you’re super brave to eat an unknown seed!
Allie Zottola
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous hike! I totally believe hiking is harder than running a half marathon.
“Nothing like trusting a stranger at a small town burger stop eating flowers.” That made me LOL so hard.