Another warm weekend, in the 80s. Already too warm for me. We started late. The access road was blocked by a blow-down ~half mile before TH. The 3 mile steady upslope tired me out in the heat of the day. Didn't reach the camp until 5pm. Pitched the tent not far from a small slow stream fed by the diminishing snow (will be gone in a week), with a great front seat view of Mt Rainier. On the way, we passed 3 groups of total 7 people heading out. Saw two guys standing on top of the ridge over the camping area, and they were gone before we came back. Blue butterflies congregating on wet soil by a small creek.
After ~1 hour of rest, refilled water, we hiked back out and follow the trail all the way to the ridge. The slope is now filled with white and yellow. Other colors are starting. At 7:45, we hit the ridge. Clear view of the eastern hills, Goat Rocks, Adams, even a hint of Hood. The walk along this flower ridge is euphoric. Ate dinner at the lookout remnant. A patch of glacier lily here. 
On the way back, the setting sun casts a glow on everything. Temperature dropped to comfortable. We reached our tent after 10pm. No one else in sight. A warm night. Stars are not the best: clouds move in.
Sunday. No sunrise to speak of. Very cloudy. A group of 6 kids who camped at the lakes hiked up and left. They all carried day packs! The trail to the lake is steep and lined with thousands of avalanche lilies. No mosquitoes!
Back to the tent, picked up more water, headed out for scramble. My goal is to reach Boundary Peak and Blue Lake. Quite some scrambling. We could see faint trails sometimes. Didn't succeed. Wandered through some untouched meadows.On the way out, saw one couple coming in the warm afternoon. Temperature rising. There's less snow now than last year when I was here early August. Flowers are everywhere, especially avalanche lily. Only saw 4 beargrass in bloom. The flower show should last at least 2 more weeks.
Before heading home, we detoured to Paradise in Mt Rainier. Reflection Lake is lovely as ever, even without reflection. Flowers are in good shape. A week or so from full bloom. Saw a deer right by the trail. Strange thing is that no one else saw her(busy chatting with each other), and we saw her twice. Here's a more recognizable photo of Tatoosh Range view from the north.
