Day 14, Mt Rainier National Park, Washington State

This probably will not got out until i get back on the road again.

Last night had to be one of the worst night's sleep i have ever had on the road. This why i have to plan on 10 hours in the sleeping bag in order to get eight hours of sleep. I have to be well rested for a full day of driving. Only once did i ever stay put an extra day in a camp (at the Badlands last year after bear spray and lockout incidents - Gayle and Amber, remember that?), which i prefer not to do. (Thar's why i bring along ambien, although it only gives me 2-3 hours of deep sleep.)

i delayed my departure for the 164-mile drive to Memaloose camp until 11 to make sure i was not groggy.

And i am otherwise glad i did delay my departure.despite the need to get on the road as early as possible. There is something to be said about taking my time to break camp.

After we did get on the road, although this day and night still have 10 more hours left and anything can happen (think bear), the day turned out to be a perfect 10. Even the tent setup was a perfect 10. The weather today, although freezing ar Emigrant Springs, was terrific. About 100 miles down the road, i changed my plan for the day. We would head to Mt Rainier and camp there. The drive was not very interesting until we headed northwest at Naches, then it turned spectacular driving through the National Forest, following a river the entire way.

As good luck would have, we finished the 249-mile drive at 450, ten minutes ahead of my hope each day. We (i mean I) finished all the outdoor chores at exactly 7pm, the exact minute useable daylight disappeared. (Definition - "useable daylight" - you do not need a flashlight to do things.)

The camp, set on a river in the ancient forest, is a botanist's delight, Donner's too. And the weather tonight promises to be the first above freezing night we have experienced since day 3.

I chose to come to Mt. Rainer because i have never seen it, despite multiple visits to this part of the world. It is far more majestic in person than any photos of it i have ever seen. It commands both awe and respect.

But i also chose to come here for another reason. In February 1991, my dear friend Karl Feichtmier fell 300 feet to his death on this mountain. Karl, who was 39 at the time, was an experienced climber but lost his footing in a failed belay. I still miss him after all these years. I take some comfort in now seeing the mountain that took away a dear friend forever. It's like his spirit is on the mountain forever. My life changed as the result of that loss.

Tomorrow, we head for the coast to one of two absolutely spectacular camps right off the beach. After that, in a sense, we start downhill to head for home, still thousands of miles away.

Ed and Donner, from the road