Rainier wildflower status?

Just wondering if anyone has any Idea what the flowers are like now or when they are expected to peak? I checked the SNOTEL data for paradise and from what I saw it should pretty much be cleared of snow. I will be there next week (Wed, Thurs) in that particular area. I'm not expecting carpets (though that would be great) but if there are any nice patches around? I also checked the NPS site to see what was starting to bloom but didn't quite pay attention to the locations of each flower. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks. (I know I asked a similar question a few weeks ago, but since I leave this weekend I thought I'd ask now as I'll have no internet for 10 days).

I would love an update on this too :) Was looking for a place to head for the weekend and was thinking about Rainier. I have heard that reflection and bench lakes are melted, but I don't know much about the flowers.

I was in the area a few days ago and saw lots of road side flowers so there should be plenty to shoot is your in the right areas.

Try this site for some good info: http://www.flowersofrainier.com/Main%20Menu/homepagewithtext.htm

According to what i just read from it, mid-July to mid-August is the likeliest peak time for subalpine and alpine flowers. I don't think this is an all-inclusive guide, but it's a good start. The pictures of the flowers are good but seldom include the whole plant.

Thanks Dean and Catherine. I checked that site before and found some good info. Wish I could find someone with a trip report that has images with it. Until then I'll keep searching or just find out when I get there.

You should check out the site nwhikers.net Peter. There's new trip reports every day, usually with pics.

Thanks Joe, I'll definitely have to give that a look before I leave tonight.

It's a cool site whose members are hikers and climbers. Lots of pics, but most members aren't really photographers. A lot of times I'll see some pics of great locations with great light and say to myself, "I wish I was there with MY camera, so I could have done that scene some justice!"

I really loved your recent Mono Lake series BTW...

... late report. Fri...went to Sunrise and Mt Dege. Lupine is sparse with roadside patches thickest in clumps along roadside leading to visitor center...Indian Paint is in some larger carpets...along with yellow buttercups. All were a bit short ...esp lupine which I prefer at over 2 feet height to be dense to earn the label of a great year. These are 8'' - 16" and pleasant...enough to have an aroma as you walk the trails. The trail to Dege hardly had much...but a pleasant hike. Saturday I went to Paradise and hiked along Skyline trail for a spell. Patchy snow in spots. Wanted to go to Mazama Ridge but, the snowy slopes gained depth at higher elevations and were a bit more than I wanted to traverse. Wildflowers were also short and somewhat sparse where found along trails above Paradise on south/west slopes. ...sparse when measured against good years. Some nice patches of avalanche lilies. Next week to 20 days is my guess for the snow to recede and the flower bloom to peak, hopefully some east/north slopes will get a piece of the action. This shot shows some flowers alongside trail...but only about 10 feet depth from trail and they pooped out. Not sure how Spray Park is doing this year.

Not very encouraging Ken, but what can you do?

I was up at Paradise this weekend as well. Definitely a few more weeks before the show is in full swing. The roadside patches on the way in are blooming, but the hills above the visitor center are bare of anything other than avalanche lilies.

I was back up at Sunrise yesterday...I think the display is peaking for that location right now...and I wasn't impressed. Yeah, if you compare it to the duds of the past 2-4 years...it's ok....but compared to some of the great years from over 6 to 30 years ago...it fails to impress.

Yeah the wildflowers around paradise were not as filling as I had hoped. I figured they wouldn't be great, but there were a few nice patches. My issue was getting the mountain to show. Luckily it did for one morning, but I don't think I got anything decent with flowers.

Any new reports from Paradise? Seems like now would be the time for this year.

Hi Greg, I was up at Paradise yesterday and Friday. I hate say it...Friday was better than Sunday...as the heat is causing the asters and avalanche lilies to curl and brown...quickly. Yes, the patches are still good when protected in shady areas. And trailside you can select some nice compositions. This week will have more of the same opportunities...but, after the predicted 90 degree bake-out...it will be hard to find fresh ones. Lupine are best hanging with the Indian Paint, not as fragile, longer lasting.

This was shot yesterday in some haze from Skyline trail.

...ps...wildflowers at Spray Park out of Mowich Lake ought to be starting to peak...and so too Naches Peak by Chinook Pass. Just bring plenty of bug-spray for Spray Park....

Thanks, Ken. Great shot from Skyline to the Tatoosh peaks!

Don Geyer has lots of information about the current status of wildflowers at Mount Rainier on his blog today: http://dongeyer.blogspot.com/2012/08/flowers-at-mount-rainier-2012.html. If you're not familiar with Don, he has written a guide to Rainier for photographers that is really good. Check it out on his website/blog.