Three Bears Lodge Voted 2nd in Northwest Escapes Best Cabins Contest

Best Cabins in the Northwest

 

We’d like to extend a gracious thanks to all of our fans for helping us place 2nd in the Northwest Escapes Best Cabins contest! There were 104 Best Cabin nominees and a total of 1394 votes, and we couldn’t have done it without your help!

And, many congrats to Mount Rainier National Park and all of the local businesses who came in the top 5 for their categories:

We think it’s pretty apparent that Mount Rainier had a good showing this year!

 

To celebrate, we’re extending our current Spring Special into early summer:
Get $25 off each midweek night for stays between now and June 16th.
Offer valid for new reservations made after May 9th, 2011

Check out our availability calendar here, then give us a call at 877-RU-BEARS or 206-241-8080 or email us at for more information.

 

War Veterans Climb Mt. Rainier to Fight PTSD

Veterans Climbing Mt Rainier to fight PTSD

From left, Alden Lynch, Joshua Brandon, T.J. Laynor, Lee Nelson, soldiers based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, at Mount Rainier summit.

The Seattle Times has published a great story about two Veterans of Iraq & Afghanistan helping other veterans climb Mt. Rainier to combat post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Climbing Mount Rainier and fighting in a war have a lot in common, Joshua Brandon and T.J. Laynor say.

Both require strength and resolve. Both demand that you put your life in the hands of others.

But for Brandon and Laynor, one soothes the wounds inflicted by the other.

The friends and fellow soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord will climb mountains with veterans to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through a new nonprofit organization they are forming dubbed the Hound Summit Team, named after their Army company’s mascot.

Read the full article at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014883453_ptsdclimbing27m.html.”

 

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Celebrating National Parks Week is April 16th – 24th

Bench Lake to Snow Lake

Celebrating National Parks Week is coming up soon and you’ll be able to access Mount Rainier National Park for Free from April 16th thru the 24th.   The News Tribune has a great article about activities at Washington State’s National Parks.    Here are their suggestions for how to enjoy Mt. Rainier National Park during April:

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK

At Mount Rainier, there might be nearly 190 inches of snow on the ground – barring any new storms. But the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center also will be open daily during the week, said Lee Taylor, the park’s chief of interpretation and education.

“People can still come up to ski, snowshoe, and otherwise play in the snow, which shows no signs of disappearing,” Taylor said.

Lowland trails between the Nisqually entrance and Longmire offer several options for those wanting to stretch their legs and explore.

Families with young children can do the Twin Firs Loop, a half-mile trek through old-growth forest about a half mile beyond the Kautz Creek parking area. This will take about 30 minutes, depending on how often you stop to study flowers, creeks and nurse trees.

The Kautz Creek Trail is a two-mile round-trip trek along the flat, lower portion of the trail. The trailhead is three miles east of the park entrance. Interpretive signs explain the effects of floods, such as the 2006 flood that pushed the creek east of its old location, and how they shape the land.

A drive up the Westside Road can be combined with a hike or snowshoe trek along the former roadway beyond where the road was washed out.

At Longmire, the 0.7-mile Trail of Shadows offers a look at the park’s early days and the development of the Longmire Springs Resort. Hikers also can take the portion of the Wonderland Trail from Longmire to Cougar Rock. At 3.4 miles round trip, this hike parallels the Nisqually River, offering views of the Tatoosh Range and cuts through ancient trees.

If the snow has begun melting in earnest, a stop at Christine Falls pullout is worthwhile. A short trail from the road offers a good view of the 75-foot waterfall.

Photo by lawdawg1 on flickr.

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Mt. Rainier Climbing Fees to Increase

Climbing Mount Rainier

Posted today at the Seattle PI:

SEATTLE — Climbers will have to pay more if they want to scale Mount Rainier.

Mount Rainier National Park officials announced Tuesday that an annual climbing pass will cost most adults $43, or an increase of $13. A new youth fee will cost $30 for climbers 24 and younger. The new fees go into effect immediately.

About 11,000 people climb the 14,411-foot volcano each year. Climbing fees pay for rangers salaries, updated climbing routes and weather information, maintenance of toilets at high camps and other services.

Park officials say the fees haven’t covered the full costs of the climbing program over the years. The climbing fee was last increased in 2003.

Original Article: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_rainier_climbing_fee.html

Image courtesy mckaysavage at Flickr.

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Downloadable Mt. Rainier National Park Maps

Mt Rainier National Park PDF Map

Here is a downloadable full-quality PDF of the official Mount Rainier National Park Map that is handed out when you enter the National Park.  You can click on the map above to download it, or right-click and select “Save Link As” to download the PDF file to your computer.  You’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the file.

Right-click here to download PDF: Mount Rainier National Park Map (1.6MB)

Other Handy Mt Rainier National Park Maps:

Downloadable Mt. Rainier National Park Map

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Featured Hike: Grove of the Patriarchs

Grove of the Patriarchs Hike at Mount Rainier National Park
Grove of Patriarchs - Click for Larger Map

Click for Larger Map

Hike: Grove of the Patriarchs
Distance: 1.3 Miles Round-Trip
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: Approx. 100 feet
Time: About 45 Minutes
Season: Mid-June to October

Famous for its old-growth forest featuring thousand-year-old trees, the Grove of the Patriarchs is a must see for anyone visiting the Ohanapecosh area, located in the Southeast corner of Mount Rainier National Park. The trail wanders alongside the Ohanapecosh River for a half mile before reaching its island destination – a small loop treating you to views of trees reaching 300 feet in height (not far from the world’s largest tree, a Coast Redwood in California reaching 379 feet). The Grove of Patriarchs features some of the largest trees in the National Park, with the largest examples reaching 40-50 feet in diameter.

Grove of the Patriarchs View

Click for Larger Picture

The trail starts off a quarter mile up the road from the Stevens Canyon entrance along Highway 123. The parking lot in this area has minimal parking during the summer, so you’ll need to get there early or park nearby and walk down the road. Just off the right side of the road by the restrooms the trail will head North following the river. This portion of the trail eventually leads to Deer Creek Camp and Tipsoo Lake. Flanked on either side by large red cedars, the trail heads straight for a third of a mile before you’ll be taking a right at a T-intersection.

Grove of the Patriarchs Suspension Bridge

Click for Larger Picture

Upon turning right you’ll quickly cross the river on a suspension bridge (picture on the right). The bridge leads over the Ohanapecosh River and onto the island where the Grove of the Patriarchs is located. A little further down the path and it will split into two – you can take either direction since it’s a loop. As you walk along the loop you’ll be surrounded by Douglas firs, Western hemlocks, Western red cedars and more. Take your time on the island, enjoy the ancient giants around you, and be sure to read the many signs along the trail to learn more about the Grove.

Though fairly short in distance, the amazing sites at the Grove make it a highly recommended stop for all visitors, especially if you’re entering the park from the East before heading towards Paradise or Longmire. If you have just one afternoon to spend in the National Park, we’d highly recommend pairing this hike with the Bench Lake to Snow Lake Hike, a stop at the Jackson Visitor Center, and possibly a stop at Rampart Ridge near Longmire if you’re looking to add some extra mileage. Also, be sure not to forget your camera!

Photo Credits:

Grove of Patriarchs Suspension bridge: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paraflyer/2202582912/

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Visiting Mount Rainier: Paradise Inn

Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park

The Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier

Nestled in the heart of Paradise, the Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier is a destination sure to be well worth the visit. At an elevation of 5,420 feet, its unique location takes advantage of the breathtaking views of the Tatoosh mountain range, Mount Rainier, and the blossoming meadows of the Valley. It is also conveniently near the Jackson Visitor Center and numerous hiking trails.

Built in 1917, the Paradise Inn is one of the oldest living structures around Mount Rainier. It is known as one of the oldest elevated mountain resorts in the nation and in 1987 was declared a National Historic Landmark. Over its ninety-some year history, the Paradise Inn has housed a number of famous guests, from Shirley Temple to President Harry S. Truman to the crown prince of Norway, proving that the lovely Paradise Valley landscape is truly fit for a king.

Historic Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier

Historic Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier

Alaskan Cedar Timbers used in Paradise Inn

Alaskan Cedar Timbers used in Paradise Inn

Much of the beauty of the Paradise Inn’s architecture comes from the unique materials used to build it. The exposed framework is comprised of naturally-weathered Alaskan cedar from the slopes of the mountain itself, which has acquired an unusual silvery sheen from years of exposure to the elements, while the foundation is made from the stone of nearby quarries. It was designed after the popular “National Park Service Rustic” style of architecture, in which the structure is made to blend in with and enhance the natural beauty of the surrounding area. One of the most striking features of the Inn is the steeply gabled roof stretching from end to end: making up most of the two and a half stories, it was painted a naturally-hued green, and the shingles used were meant to be reminiscent of the Tatoosh mountain range.

Over the course of the years, however, many changes had been made to Paradise Inn to change it from its original design. The original rooms within the Inn had been sectioned off into smaller rooms, an entire annex had been added on to the original building, and years of harsh snow conditions had taken their toll as well.  Prior to the renovation, the building was tilting several inches and needed to be stabilized.  Reinforced concrete and foundation repairs were added throughout the building in addition to earthquake precautions.

Part of the renovation involved the preservation of the historic fireplaces in the building.  Each rock from the fireplace was numbered and labeled before being taken apart and reconstructed in the exact same arrangement.  Extensive amounts of pictures were taken to ensure the Inn was restored to its original design.  Historical photos from the Inn’s past were also used to determine how the Inn looked 90 years ago.

Interior of the Paradise Inn

Interior of the Paradise Inn

The Paradise Inn features a post office, a gift shop, a restaurant, and 117 guest rooms within its walls. Since the renovation in 2006, the Inn holds much of the charm of its early construction. The woodwork and much of the handmade furniture, including a fourteen-foot-tall grandfather clock and a rustic grand piano once played by President Harry S. Truman, were crafted by German carpenter Hans Fraehnke. A trip to the Paradise Inn will give any visitor the chance to experience first hand a beloved piece of Mount Rainier history.

Photo Credits:
Paradise Inn w/ Mount Rainier in the Background
Historic Mount Rainier
Paradise Inn Interior
Alaskan Cedar on Paradise Inn

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