Day 8, Crystal Mountain Ski Area, WAJul 20, 2011
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Mt. Ranier, seen from Crystal Mountain Ski Area, WA
Gondola ride up Crystal Mountain
Herd of elk seen from the gondola!
Just a note to start the day to all our family and friends under the "heat dome".....the low since midnight was 42 degrees. Current temps at 9:23 Pacific Time is 51 degrees. The furnace is running to take off the "chill"!
It is now 7:03 Pacific Time, and again, it is 51 degrees. High today was 61 degrees. We had find the long pants and a sweatshirt!
After discussing options...go look around this area; or, go on to Seattle;, or, stay here. We chose Option 3, stay here!
The ski lodges, ski lift area, gondola, shops are just a quarter of a mile from where we are parked. We bought tickets for the gondola ride...a mere 2000plus feet high, ten minutes, to the top of Crystal Mountain.
Oh, my! what a view. Mt. Ranier was covered with clouds when we arrived, but in just a few minutes the clouds moved and there sat The mountain...Mt. Ranier. Last summer it was Mt. McKinley, and this summer, Mt. Ranier. Mt. Ranier reaches 14,411 feet into the air.
We enjoyed lunch at the "highest restaurant in Washington", located at the end of the gondola ride. We shared a bowl of seafood chowder and a prime rib sandwich. The chowder was remniscent of what we enjoyed in Alaska, and nearly as good! The views were incredible.
The afternoon was spent resting, just resting. Guess we are getting ready for the next three days! It is just a couple of hours to Seattle; check in time at the hotel is the middle of the afternoon. At some point we will pack the suitcase. The forecast is temps to be only in the 60's while in Seattle.
