Winter Faces of Mt. Rainier

On Saturday, the skies remained clear. Hundreds came to Paradise to play in the snow. We came to hike on snowshoes. 

On Sunday, the mountain was spectacularly capped with lenticular clouds. I say clouds, because they appeared in sequence, one at a time. A spectacular lenticular cloud  which topped the mountain when we arrived, cleared and was replaced by another at least twice during the day.

"Lenticular clouds, technically known as altocumulus standing lenticularis, are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form at high altitudes, normally aligned at right-angles to the wind direction." source Crystal Links

Is it any wonder that, in the 1940s, the first sightings of "flying saucers" were reported in this area?

Our host at the Lodge said that lenticular clouds signal a change in the weather. Last night there was new snow.

Whatever the cause or the aftermath, they are a spectacular sight.

And today, a new cloud style came in.

My world has been on the mountain the last two days. Where is your world? See what's happening in other parts  of the world each Tuesday linked here.