Submitted by yellowstringbean t3_104hpug in Washington
Looking to elope up at Mt Rainier next summer. Due to conflicts we only have two options to come. Last week of July (thinking July 26-28) or week after Labor Day (around Sept 5-6)…Which option is safer to plan and get the best wildflower experience? Thank you!
I am familiar with rules and leave no trace and am passionate about it being from the PNW. Thank you for stating it kindly and calmly and actually also answering the question :)
NP, And at least all the people hounding you goes to show how much we love our nature!
Please don't trample the wildflowers. There is a very short growing season on thin soils and trampling causes long term damage that takes a long time for the meadows to recover.
As others have stated, please do not trample onto the wildflower meadows. It destroys the very fragile meadow and takes a long time to grow back. Stay on established trails.
Edit: it seems the couple in the photo is actually on trail. Regardless, my point still stands.
Don't be one of those selfish pricks who trample the flowers, as influencers and others eager for selfies and pictures of themselves do in places like Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve during bloom. It's heinous and vile. Show some respect please. Stay on paths.
Saying this on account of the picture you posted, which shows a selfish couple trampling wildflowers just for a pretty picture.
They’re actually standing on trail :) I grew up in the PNW I’m very familiar with leave no trace, thanks!
lol it really doesn’t take much effort to see they are indeed standing on a trail surrounded by wildflowers. the people on this site sometimes smh
But where is the 📷PHOTOGRAPHER standing??!?
On a trail :) it loops back
Hey, do you mind sharing what trail this is? It looks so beautiful!
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That was my first thought when seeing the photo
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July, but that is not a safe bet. Predicting when they will show up is much easier closer to that date. And, I have seen good flowers in July. Flowers start their season as early as possible. And it is a quick season, since winter may be coming any day now.
Please do not walk off the trail to stand in the flowers. It looks like these two might be doing that, but it is possible it is just the perspective. Or, the photographer might be doing that. Or a good photo shop job.
You can get a good photographer to photo shop to make an illusion. I hope that is what this is.
Hey, shoot in RAW format, and I will do the photo shop for you. No one needs to know. In fact, you will earn the respect of many people if you openly say you photo shopped out the trail to make it look this way.
It looks like they are just to the side of the trail if you look at the bottom right
I agree. It is hard to tell. And it is easy to make it look like they are in the flowers, while staying on the trail. That was the intent of my comment.
I do trust OP to do the right thing. I read other comments by OP. Others read this too. So having a good smack down telling people to stay on the trail is a benefit to the people reading this, and not commenting. I also tried to word it as both supportive, and firm.
Is it possible to elope with 6-months’ notice?
Right? She means ‘small destination wedding.’
Absolutely! Most of our couples start beginning their elopements within 6-8 months. As long as you have a date and location, start booking vendors right away and apply for your permits right away, it can be done! => I own an adventure elopement photo and video company here in the PNW
I think the point is that if you’re doing months of planning and hiring vendors, it’s not really an elopement.
> Most of our couples start beginning their elopements within 6-8 months.
Weddings. You mean weddings.
To be clear, we are doing just us, up in the mountain, with a photographer. No other people other than 2 witnesses
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Granted, they might be on the trail still.
Either them or the photographer are in the meadow though, as there isn’t a 16ft wide trail they could both be standing on.
Actually, it’s a looped trail :)
I'd pick late July/early August for the statistically best chances of a good time. Summer up there is short (that's part of why the plants are so delicate). Melt-out at Paradise is usually early to mid July, and autumn weather starts around Labor day, sometimes sooner.
Try to stick to trails and rocky surfaces. If you're committed to meadow-stomping, find a spot that's already worn bare from others rather than trampling healthy plants.
https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/wildflower-status.htm
https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/travel-camp-on-durable-surfaces/
I’m not sure why people thought I’d meadow stomp but definitely not. I’m from the area and aware of leave no trace. They’re on a trail in the photos. There’s tons of wildflowers near trails and just want them in the photos in general, don’t plan on ruining them or leaving designated areas!
Based on the comments it is hard to see them on the trail, but I respect that you can get such a beautiful photo and respect the land. Are you able to edit the post to include that fact? It might save you some heartache.
Thanks for tips on July. I’ve gone up in July in the past (10-19th) and never had many wildflowers bloomed yet so was thinking end of July might be too early still
Wildflower season is very brief in the high alpine meadows. A week can make a big difference and it really depends on when the last bit of snow melts. Late July could be great or a bit early but after Labor day is definitely too late.
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Lol everyone seems pretty mad at you for your future flower stomping. I think you’ll do great, early July is best I’d say. Flowers are good and best chance of no rain. Man this comment section really cracked me up. I do agree with every single one of them too, but still so pnw.
Love ya fam stay on the trails!
It is such a PNW response comment section lol. I respect the passion as I feel the same way but better ways to phrase and approach it….
The earlier the better since even July is past the peak blooming season, do not underestimate Rainier’s microclimate; you’d be surprised by how long its winters last. Don’t trample them and stay on the trail. While many people here seem to think this couple is trampling them, if you look closely you can see they’re on a trail
That depends what elevation you are at and snow pack
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y’all need to read OP’s comments that the couple isn’t off roading on the wildflowers geez it’s not original at this point
Sigh. We were there last summer and there were "influencers" with hammocks in the trees far off the trails.
Sigh….indeed
Idk why everyone’s assuming you’re just gonna prance all over the flowers lol, it’s not like they don’t grow next to paths or something
It’s because the highly-accessible areas of Mt. Rainier (Paradise, Sunrise, etc.) are absolutely swamped every summer with vain, self-entitled twats trampling and destroying the very thing that makes it beautiful, just to get a pic like OP posted for their social media.
Yes, people are assholes, but as I’ve stated they are not flower stomping in the photo they are on trail.
Yes, I can see that. I was simply responding to the commenter who said they didn’t understand why everyone was assuming you were out to murder wildflowers.
If you're planning it, it's not eloping. It's just a destination wedding.
Actually, wrong. Definition: run away secretly in order to get married
We are not telling anyone ;)
July still holds the chance for snow pockets, at least on the Sunrise side. This looks like an early summer picture in Paradise, likely July too, due to all the avalanche lilies blooming. You're likely going to see mostly those, and maybe some pasqueflowers starting their cycle if you go in July.
Holding out for after Labor Day could give you more color, but you also have to consider the crazy wildfire smoke we've been getting the past couple years because it hits the mountain too. That time is also the busiest for the park because people are wrapping up their summer travels, and it means that some of the flowers will stomped by off-trail visitors. The weather will be unpredictable as well, higher chances of rain and sleet.
I hope this info helps! It's just based on my one summer as a ranger there :) Congrats on your marriage!
One of our family friends is a photographer in the PNW and has done a few photo shoots specifically for wildflower & mountain shots - her IG is @photosby.cassandra. I remember last year her showcasing what different areas looked like as far as trees/flowers, so you may want to check out her page. Iirc it was May.
Thank you!!! That’s super helpful 🙏🏻
So there is this rare place in the cascades that holds 90% of the total of the world Wenatchee Checkermallows. Not saying you should go in the meadow by any means, but there are plenty of places to observe without disturbing. So if you were looking for a rare place that you could responsibly have this small engagement, this would be a good story for photos to share.
I'd look at past years' pictures of trails near where you're targeting on wta.org to get a better idea of the general weeks they're blooming. It can vary year to year.
Totally forgot about wta thanks!
I vote september! fall flowers are the best :)
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September will probably be a lot more fall toned flowers. Still beautiful, but probably less of the purples and blue colors. But you can’t really go wrong with Rainier!! Leave no trace..
Yes that’s what I’m thinking. I went up in 2019 for some Milky Way photos earlier in July and was really disappointed with how little wildflowers were out so I was worried end of July might be too soon still, but must have been the cut off time! Thanks
Unfortunately it really depends on how much snowpack there is, and how quickly it melts off. I think late July has the best odds, but we all know the weather gods can’t be counted on.
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Late July is your best bet. That’s around peak on the Sunrise side. Paradise and Mazama Ridge tend to peak in august sometime depending on how long the snowfall melt takes.
Flowers at different elevations will bloom at different times, so it's likely you'll catch it on either date.
That said, I would pick July so you get a 2nd chance if it doesn't work out.
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Tahoma*
I have some beautiful wildflower pictures from our anniversary trip Aug. 1, 2020
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Are you unable to read? Check the comments before attacking, jeez.
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rosesandpiglets t1_j354gjp wrote
Earlier the better, but by July you’re already past peak bloom and there’s also stuff that blooms in September.
Whichever you do please say on trails and don’t trample wildflowers for a photo op.