Family trip to Washington state in the first week of July. Always look forward to a retreat from Texas summer heat. First four days weather was typical of the region - highs in the 70s. The last two days a heat wave arrived and highs were around 90 - though still better than 100+ in Texas.
North Cascades National Park
 |
| Gorge powerhouse. There is a small museum inside where you learn about the history and role of the powerhouse. |
 |
| Ladder Creek Falls |
 |
| Top of Ladder Creek Falls |
 |
| Gorge Overlook Trail |
 |
| Gorge Lake, near the Gorge dam |
 |
| Gorge Creek Falls |
 |
| Rainy Lake. The trail to the lake is 1 mile or .62 km from the trailhead. |
 |
| Two mountain waterfalls flowing into Rainy Lake. |
 |
| Vista point at Washington Pass. |
 |
| Diablo Dam |
 |
| Diablo Dam is one of three hydroelectric dams on the Skagit River. It provides Seattle with some of its power needs. |
 |
| Diablo Lake Vista Point. The bright turquoise color of the lakes come from minerals in the glacier water. Reminds me of Peyto Lake in Banff National Park. |
Snoqualmie Falls
 |
| Jakob Two Trees. It is a troll sculpture made by an artist in Denmark. |
 |
| Snoqualmie Falls. Upper viewing deck. It is a 15-20 minute hike between the upper and lower viewing decks. |
 | |
|
Amazon Spheres
Amazon Spheres in downtown Seattle. They look like botanical gardens on the outside. Inside are meeting areas filled with plants and ponds. The Spheres intend to connect Amazon employees with nature while they work. Tours are offered to the public, but only on a few Saturdays each month. The indoor pictures are from a previous Seattle trip in July 2019.
 |
 |
 |
| July 2019 visit |
Lounge area shaped like a bird nest
Conference room in the Spheres.
Seattle
 |
| Seattle skyline from Hamilton Viewpoint Park in West Seattle. |
Independence Day fireworks show at Lake Union. I watched the fireworks on an Argosy Cruises boat. Video of fireworks
 |
| Seattle skyline from Lake Union |
Mount Rainier National Park
 |
| Mt Rainier from Tipsoo Lake. |
 |
| Reflection Lake. |
 |
| Picture Frame Falls. From the viewpoint, the trees form a frame around the waterfall. |
 |
| Setting sun shining on the mountains. |
 |
| Mt Rainier from Inspiration Point. |
 |
| Sunset at Inspiration Point |
 | ||
Spotted a marmot
|
 |
| Unicorn Peak |
 |
| The Castle and Pinnacle Peak |
 | ||
Nisqually River
|
 |
| Narada Falls. When the sun hits the water at the correct angle, people can see a rainbow. We were there around 12 noon. |
