Mount Rainier Washington
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Mount Rainier is located in Washington State. It is an active composite volcano that is 54 miles southeast of Seattle. This mountain is the most well known mountain in the United States. It has 26 major glaciers and approximately 30 square miles of snowfields. At the top of Mount Rainier you will find two volcanic craters. These two craters form the largest volcanic glacier cave in the world and the west crater has a crater lake in it. Mount Rainier rises 13,210 feet and can be seen from miles away and even in different states depending on how clear the sky is.
Mountain Rainier
National Park
The area Mount Rainier now covers was once home to Puyallup Indians. At that time it was called Talol, Tahoma and/or Tacoma which translates into different versions of “mother of waters, mountains”. They lived off the land and animals for many years before white settlers started making journeys to the area.
In 1792 Captain George Vancouver reached Puget Sound. He was the first European settler to the area and named the mountain after his friend Admiral Peter Rainier. After his voyage many other people traveled to the area and made an impact on it. In 1833 a doctor named William Fraser Tolmie did research around Mount Rainier for medicinal plants. In 1870 Hazard Stevens and P.B. Van Trump climbed to the top of the mountain and became well known for that journey. Another climber named John Muir made it to the top of Mount Rainier and decided the view of the mountain was best from below.
Not only did John Muir climb to the top of Mount Rainier but he was also a leader in making sure the mountain was protected. The area of the Pacific Forest Reserve became protected in 1893 to keep the timber and watersheds safe.
President William McKinley dedicated Mount Rainier National Park on March 2, 1899 making it the 5th national park in America. This was done in order to preserve the area and hopes to increase tourism to Mount Rainier.
Weather
Weather at Mount Rainier is influenced by the Pacific Ocean but really makes it’s own weather. The elevation and latitude of the mountain also impact the type of weather that can be experienced. If you plan to hike or climb the mountain be sure you are aware of where weather stations are on the Mount Rainier. The weather changes quickly so be prepared for all different types of weather. Hikers should also be prepared and ware of avalanche warnings.
Summer months average in the 60’s and 70’s. Although summer months like July and August prove to be the warmer and drier, there is still a good possibility for wet and cool weather. However, summer is not the rainiest months of the year.
Snowfall can be found between the elevations of 5,000-11,000 feet. This mountain is one of the snowiest places on the planet and receives approximately 630 inches of snowfall per year. Between November and May there will be at least 10 to 20 feet of snow on the ground.
Although hiking and climbing can be fun and exciting, please be use several sources for information, follow all safety procedures, and take all needed gear. For more information, please visit http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/weather.htm
Outdoor Recreation
Mount Rainier offers it travelers plenty of outdoor activities. They range from hiking, biking, and climbing. Unfortunately, Mount Rainier is not know for it’s fishing, but angelers can still give it a chance. Despite this information about fishing, Mount Rainier is great for men and women who love the outdoors.