Mount Rainier

The fifth of August was still hazy with the last of the Spokane smoke, and there was little about: a handful of birds and a long, quiet afternoon. Early on the sixth we drove up toward Mount Rainier, out of the haze and into clear alpine air, the mountain standing white and enormous over the subalpine meadows. The walk up was full of chipmunks, bold and busy among the rocks. The tame grey Canada Jays that Rainier is known for came down at once to look us over. These camp robbers of the mountain forests were new to the list. A Fox Sparrow perched on a spruce top, also new. Higher up, Violet-green Swallows hunted the slopes on white-flanked wings. Back down in Packwood, a few Rufous Hummingbirds worked the feeders to close the day.