Get In Touch
Congratulations on your engagement! Mt.Rainier is one of the most breathtaking and stunning locations to celebrate this monumental moment in your life. Although it is a beautiful location it is a huge mountain and on mother natures schedule so it is important to prepare properly for your session.
Here are some tips and essentials to keep in mind:
- Plan your route: Before choosing a hike, review the different trails at Mt. Rainier (I have some to recommend) and choose the one that best fits your fitness level and desired scenery. I will be checking the weather forecast up to the day of the session to ensure we are on a safe and fun route. It is a great idea to have a couple hiking routs in mind in case your top trail is closed the day of your session.
- Bring appropriate gear: Make sure you wear sturdy, comfortable hiking boots with good traction and dress in layers to accommodate for changing temperatures. If you are hiking on any of the paths not paved you need proper hiking shoes, not just tennis shoes. Bring a backpack with essentials such as water, snacks, sunscreen, and insect repellent as well as any photoshoot outfits.
- Follow Leave No Trace principles: Mt. Rainier is a protected national park, so it’s important to practice Leave No Trace principles. This means packing out all your trash, staying on designated trails, and avoiding disturbing wildlife or vegetation. Never step on or pick the precious wildflowers at Mt.Rainier as they take years to grow and are a part of Rainier’s very sensitive ecosystem.
Mt. Rainier is a National Park and does require a National Park Pass to enter. Those can be purchased at the entrance gate or online prior to your session. Ensure your car is prepared for the drive up the mountain with an adequate amount of gas and any other necessary items like chains if you are planning on being there in the snow.
Engagement sessions at Mt.Rainier are my absolute favorite. I recommend them to everyone because they are just such a unique and memorable experience. It truly adds to the exciting engagement period of your life. My husband and I chose to have our engagement session on the mountain as well and to this day It brings a smile to my face when I remember our engagement session. I remember being in awe of how huge the mountain was when we reached the top of our hike, having so much fun enjoying the views and hiking down the mountain with him in the dark with all the other hikers wearing headlamps. It was such an epic adventure and the photos are so special and stunning. I always recommend adventure sessions to my couples because it truly is a once in a lifetime experience.
Included are photos from Vendela and Ja’Seans engagement session at Paradise at Mt. Rainier. They decided on a shorter hiking pathed where we stuck to the paved trails and kept our walking distance to under a mile. This allowed them to dress fancy from the beginning of their hike and spend more time cuddling and enjoying the sunset instead of sweating and hiking up a trail.
