In the pictures, you will see Mt. Rainier and Alder lake. It really gives a vibe that only Switzerland can beat.
BHPian A777R recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Well, this has been long overdue, given how much my wife and I enjoy the beautiful pictures posted here by all members. One comment my wife consistently makes about the blogs is how refreshing it is to see posts without excessive filters and humblebrags, and I completely agree. So, here’s my attempt to share some pictures from our slice of the earth called the Pacific Northwest.
The Pacific Northwest (PNW) area of the US is marked in the map below.
I moved to Seattle,Washington in Dec 2023 and am trying to make the most of my stay here with my limited budget given that I am trying to aggressively get rid of my student debt and also hoping for the visa gods to rule in my favor.
These pictures are from Mt. Rainier National Park which I visited in early May. Since I was with a few elderly people, I did not get a chance to hike it but it certainly looks like a hike worth doing.
Mount Rainier, the tallest peak in Washington State, was named by Captain George Vancouver on May 8, 1792, in honor of his friend Rear Admiral Peter Rainier. According to the USGS, it’s one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the Cascade Range due to its height, frequent earthquakes, active hydrothermal system, and extensive glacier cover.
In the Pacific Northwest, you’ll also find Mt. Baker, Mt. Hood, and Mt. St. Helens. Captain Vancouver named Mt. St. Helens after another friend and Mt. Baker after one of his Lieutenants. Interestingly Mt. Hood was named by William Broughton but he was under Vancouver’s command at the time. And believe it or not, there are cities named Vancouver in Canada and in Washington state, both after Captain Vancouver!
Captain Vancouver passed away in relative obscurity on May 10, 1798, at the age of 40, less than three years after completing his voyages and expeditions. Yet millions of people still mention his name and that of his friends every day.
Anyway, enough of history, in the pictures you will see Mt. Rainier and Alder lake. It really gives a vibe that only Switzerland can beat.
Christine Falls Bridge
Lake Alder
Next trip was to a town called Leavenworth. The town is designed to look like a Bavarian town and is one of the major tourist draws in the PNW. The drive to Leavenworth is one of the most beautiful drives in the US and you are constantly struggling to concentrate on the long windy roads at 100+ kmph while trying to look outside at the views. On the way back we stopped at Lake Wenatchee which is one of the several large and pristine lakes in the PNW.
Continuing on the European theme, the PNW is also the home of Skagit Valley, which hosts an annual Tulip festival and looks as picturesque as the Netherlands during the bloom season.
We also got a chance to see the cherry blossom bloom at the University of Washington.
Another day trip to Snoqualmie Falls and Seattle to see the Space Needle and visit the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum.
And another one to Discovery Park in Seattle. (a beautiful Mt. Rainier is also visible in the pictures)
As I have reached the 30 picture limit for a post, I will post the remaining pictures in the next part of the post. Thank you for reading and I wish that all of you get a chance to visit the PNW once in your life.
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