Have finally decided on a plan that takes into account weather contingency, weekend crowds and driving time.

From Seattle Airport area on Friday morning, head south to the Johnston observatory at Mount St Helens's and then head south to the Gorge and Multnomah/Wahkeena falls. Reports all say that they are very busy on weekends, so getting there on Friday afternoon/evening seems preferable. If I find some time at the end of the evening, I may pop into Portland, but probably I'll just want to flake out.

The hotels in the gorge and PDX area are pretty pricey, so I've booked a place in Vancouver for the night. That should allow me an early start into the gorge and Mount Hood area without the originally planned drive in from Astoria. It means that I can probably get up to Lost Lake as well as taking in the vista locations and a few of the falls further up the gorge.

Overnight accommodation in The Dalles, so next morning I'll head north, via the Lewis and Clark highway and US97 via Yakima to the Crystal Mountain ski resort for the night, with time to head up either to Paradise or the Mount Rainier Gondola if the mountain isn't in cloud. It is close enough to Seattle that I can have a leisurely drive the next morning and stop off in a mall to do a bit of shopping before a mid afternoon flight to SFO.

Of course, if it is teeming with rain or very low cloud hemming in the moutains, there is always Portland to fall back on, although rain shouldn't stop me photographing and enjoying the falls in the gorge.