Herd In Passing

Day 159: No trip to Washington State would be complete without a visit to Mount Rainier National Park. The Mountain draws people...and weather...like a magnet. As elusive as the Mountain may be for tourists seeking that perfect sunset photo, a sight equally rare is that of the herds of elk pasturing at the peak's feet.

These magnificent animals are most likely to be spotted at dawn and dusk, times when the light is dim and the possibility of getting a good photograph is minimal, even for those of us who live here. However, as we drove toward the Park this morning, the elk were out on both sides of the road, close enough to the highway that we could remain in the car and avoid spooking them into flight.