Lenticular Cloud on Mt. Rainier taken 2 weeks ago
Two weeks ago while I was dropping off my son at his school I saw this lenticular cloud on top of Mt. Rainier, the sun just started to rise at the back of the mountain that made it yellow on the background. I usually see this type of cloud on top of Mt. Rainier but I never had the chance to take a picture of it. It disappears fast maybe due to the wind is pushing the clouds away from the mountain. So that time, when I went home I immediately grabbed my camera found a nice spot along our neighborhood area and took this picture. But the view was not that good as when I saw it earlier but at least I still had the chance to take this shot and after few minutes (as soon as I came home) the thick fog with sun rays covered the view of Mt. Rainier. I guess I was lucky that time ;-)
Lenticular clouds are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, usually perpendicular to the wind direction. Due to their shape, they almost look like an UFO (Unidentified Flying Objects).
Our neighborhood with Mt Rainier view taken yesterday
Yesterday, I saw again the nice clouds forming around Mt. Rainier but I didn't have my camera with me. I just took a picture after an hour but the clouds were not as beautiful compared to what I saw an hour earlier. Lesson learned: I should always bring my camera whenever and wherever I go.
This was taken last summer, August 2011 on our way to Mt. Rainier's Paradise Resort
Last August was our second time to go to Mt. Rainier National Park, and the weather that time was so clear and bright. We brought our friends who visited us from California. It's amazing to see the Mt. Rainier closer than I would imagine. This snow-capped mountain really amaze me every time I see it. The pictures below were all taken at the same day.
Taken at Mt. Rainier National Park's scenic view point last August
Another close up shot of snow-capped Mt. Rainier during summer
Taken last August, even if it's summer there's still some snow at Mt. Rainier National Park's area and the mountain itself
The kids really enjoyed the stay at the picnic area where they were throwing snow balls, sledding and sliding on the snow. We were not ready of the cold weather, we ended up having wet shoes and the kids with wet pants ;-)
By the way, we didn't get the chance to park and see Paradise Resort Visitor's Center it was jam packed with tourists and we could not find a parking spot, we were expecting that because it was summer and the weather was nice and clear to see and enjoy Mt. Rainier. We just opted to park just right after the Visitor's center down the hill where we found a small falls where we took some pictures.
