Hi everyone, it's Rei - long time no see! As we are now halfway through September, I hope everyone is settling into their new environment. We also had over 60 new international students join PLU this fall!! As many of them set foot in here Tacoma, Washington for the first time, they may be surprised at the culture shock they experience with their home country. With the goal of hoping these new international students feel the charm of Tacoma, today I would like to share some hiking spot where you can feel the "nature" of Washington state with your whole body!
What is Mount Rainier?
You may know it as Mount Rainier (Mt. Rainier), this huge mountain, clearly visible from the PLU campus on a clear day. Mt. Rainier is the highest peak in the Cascade Range, which divides Washington State from east to west. At 14,410 feet (4,392 meters), it is the 21st highest peak in the world. AND! The surrounding Mt. Rainier National Park is the fifth oldest national park in the United States! They also have "Free-Free Days" which you can enter the mountain for free, and it usually cost $15 per person. The upcoming one is on September 23rd (Sat) for National Public Lands Day. If you are planning to visit there, definitely mark the date! Please visit their
official website for more information!
Other options to hike!
Are you worried that Mount Rainier looks too far from the school or too high in altitude for beginners? No worries! I have some recommendations to visit for those of who wants to just experience the hiking more easily!
1. Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls is one of the most popular scenic spots in Washington State. More than 1.5 million tourists visit the falls each year. The Falls has a two-acre park, gift store, observation deck, Salish Lodge, and the famous 270-foot waterfall. The upper and lower observation decks are open year round! Free parking and free viewing areas are open dawn to dusk. Leashed pets are welcome, and lights illuminate the falls at night. The distance from the free parking area to the observation deck is approximately 200 feet and is wheelchair accessible.
This is one of the places I have visited! You can drive close to the falls and there is not that much distance to walk. I would recommend this place to those who do not want to walk that much distance but still want to experience nature!
Link to their official website: https://www.snoqualmiefalls.com/
2. Poo Poo Point Trail
Poo Poo Point Trail is one of my favorite hiking spot! It is in Tiger Mountain State Forest Park, located on Cougar Mountain. The trail is elevated with great views of Mount Rainer, especially at sunset! This point is a popular landing spot for paragliders (just like a picture on the right!) and hang gliders. It is also a great picnic spot with plenty of picnic tables! The trail begins with a gentle incline, but gets a little steeper the further in you go. I remember that there is a nice bridge across Gap Creek that provides a good place to walk and rest, so this is a best spot for those of who want to enjoy the hike but needs a rest occasionally. Also, as the weather gets colder, the colors of the trees will change to yellow and red. The beautiful scenery that varies from season to season is one of the charms of hiking at this time of year!
Link to Poo Poo Point Trail official website: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/poo-poo-point
Options for those of you who don't own a car!
The above places are for those who own a car or have a friend close by who has a car, as it is difficult to get there without a way of transportation. So how can you hike in Washington without a car? In PLU, an event organization called PLU Outdoor Rec regularly organizes hikes and other events that allow students to be intertwined within the trees. One of the biggest upcoming events is the Mount Rainier Sunset Hike on October 6th at 3pm. Unfortunately, the event is filled to capacity right now, but you can still apply on the wait list! With such a wide variety of quite popular events, be sure to check the PLU Rec app and this IMLeagues website for more upcoming activities! It is also a great opportunity to meet new friends!
Although I was only able to introduce a few place this time, there are more and more spots you can visit and I am still exploring new spots as well. I hope that through this vlog, you will become interested in hiking in Washington state! I know that studying for exams or classes and everyday life can often be stressful, but feeling the breeze of nature is always relaxing and it makes you feel better. If you have time in the future, try to go hiking on the weekends! And I hope that all of you will be one with nature!
-Rei
