On the way to our destination of the Paul Peak trail, you have to travel 11 miles of rough, DUSTY, gravel road. You should have seen the car. About 4 miles from the trailhead you come around a bend and the Mt. comes into view. It nearly knocks your socks off!!!! This is the NE side of Mt. Rainier with the famous Elk Head in clear view, just below the summit. It has just enough snow and not too much to be very clear to the eye. As the snow melts or falls away in an avalanche, the form will be harder to make out. I get all tingley as we get closer to the trail, like a racehorse in the gate. It's gonna be a fun summer!!!!