The presence of Mt. Rainier

52 degrees according to the subaru and definitely raining. 2 sleeping kids in the back, a clamshell full of skis and a husband who for once is more pessimistic than myself…he hates skiing in the rain.  Nothing’s been easy this week-end. An emergency in the office took me away for nearly 2 hours making me late to my own thanksgiving dinner for 9. The kids and Eric took over well except the kids tried to make their own table leaving the adults to eat alone. I was home in time to fix that.

42 degrees I reported cheerfully as we began the ascent from Enumclaw to Crystal Mtn. Only 10 to go!  Eric looked taciturnly ahead and kept driving. 

“Snow!” Lisa was cheerfully able to report when she woke up. Finally it was there- obediently drifted on either side of the road except where the land fell away to deep depths below.

Fog scampered all around us completely obscuring our surroundings but we weren’t complaining- we could see each other and our skis and it wasn’t raining.  After lunch, douglas firs finally appeared and seemed  lit up by  sunshine on their snowy branches.

“Is that where it’s supposed to be?” Behind a ridge, clouds and fog turned orangy pink but refused to melt away under the tentative sun. Eric was sure. Mt. Rainier was behind the veil. Somehow, knowing the gigantic volcano was right in front of us yet completely invisible made its  power even more impressive.

I followed Summer down for the last run of the day. Her powder blue snow suit, brilliant sky blue hood and silver boots were softened by the wispy remnants of fog.