Grand Park,  Mt Rainier National Park,  October 21, 2005     page 2 / 12

The trail turns southeastward briefly and loses a few hundred feet of elevation. The forest canopy is denser here, making the hike a bit darker. Then a corner was turned and I walked into a large meadow. I walked quietly, looking for any animals in the area. I never did see any. The meadow was filled with low, dry grass. A few dried lupine plants were seen as well.

A small tarn near the southern end of the meadow was nearly dry. With the sun's warming effect, there was enough moisture left in the tarn to create an eerie fog. In the trees nearby, I could hear a woodpecker tapping a tree.