On the eighth and final day of my 93-mile thru-hike of the Wonderland Trail, I started the morning with a steep climb up out of our camp at Indian Bar to the Cowlitz Divide. Once I reached the peak, I stopped to catch my breath. When I turned around, I saw a literal wonderland. Before me lay rolling hills, misty valleys, wildflowers, evergreens, and Rainier bathed in early-morning light. During my week-long trek through Mount Rainier National Park, I saw all the different 'faces' of the legendary mountain, but none were quite as special as this one. I gave myself a few moments to soak it in before pulling out my camera and taking this image.
