Officially all the gates to the high country (the northern half) of Mt. Rainier Nat'l Park are closed for the season. So we changed our plans for the day and decided to hike the Naches Loop at the top of Chinook Pass (Hwy 410, 5,432 ft. elevation). This road will also be closed in a month or so, until May of next year, because of snow. Words alone can't describe the colors of this wonderful day. There were many people out enjoying the sites on a warmer-than-usual Friday afternoon. (Lots of families, no school that day.) They will ALL testify that these colors are real and breathtakingly amazing!!! :)