Nineteen months after the beginning of a major renovation project on the historic Paradise Inn's Annex at Mount Rainier National Park, May 17 marked the grand reopening of both the inn and annex to the public. Photographer Rebecca Latson was present to mark the celebration, meet those involved in the historic restoration, and witness for herself the results of this amazing undertaking that occurred at an elevation of 5,400 feet above sea level, under summer sun and winter snows.

Since 2008, a program to return fishers, a small forest carnivore, to Olympic, Mount Rainier, and North Cascades national parks has been an ongoing effort with help from Washington's National Park Fund. Though not an overnight success, some of the relocated animals are sticking around.

Most of us spend our time looking up at our mountains. Often we reach a vista, or sometimes a peak, moving forward while jutting our chins toward the sky. The rare occasion is one where we get to look down at the majesty.