OK, that's just the nickname. This is the seed pod of the Western Anenome, one of the earliest flowers to bloom in bare patches of ground when there is still lots of snow. (There is a photo in this site.) Other names include Mountain Pasqueflower, Tow-head baby, Old Man of the Mountains and Dishmop. We like to call them Giant's Q-tip. The second photo shows the cloud level and where Mt. Rainier should be...big and beautiful. No, really, there is a mountain there!! :)