INTO THE WATERSHED AGAIN....NACHES PEAK LOOP

For those of my readers that think I should stick with postings that are related to Puget Sound....I apologize, but occasionally when things are a bit slow in the marine news area I'm tempted to post something from the mountains.  Well, it's part of the Puget Sound watershed so it sort of fits the blog title.  
Last week was another hike on the Naches Peak Loop trail....one I find myself doing often due to a couple of factors.  First it is a beautiful hike with outstanding views of Mt. Rainier.  Second is it mostly a traffic free drive (this is extremely important if traffic nightmare Seattle area).  Third it is an easy day hike with lots of different habitats including two ponds. And lastly it is relatively uncrowded for a summer hike in Mt. Rainier NP.  All that said last Friday's hike was unusual in the abundance of wildlife....as you may notice from the images below.  

Male Black Bear

Male Black Bear

Black Bear

Cascade Frog

Cascade Frog

Cascade Frog tadpole

Cat Face snow patch on Tatoosh Range

Chipmonk

Cricket on Anemone

Ground Squirrel 

Long-toed Salamander

Black Bear

Noelle with Gray Jays

Sooty Grouse female

Sooty Grouse female

Sooty Grouse juv.

Tiger Beetle