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Mt. Rainier National Park
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The Mountain
The centerpiece of and chief attraction in the park is Mt. Rainier, the most prominent of landmarks in western Washington and possibly in the northwest. This mountain is one of the largest volcanoes in the world, and is the tallest peak in the Cascade Range which stretches from British Columbia to Northern California. It is visible, on a clear day, as far away as 100 miles in every direction. Mt. Rainier lies near 14 other volcanic peaks on the spine of the Cascades stretching from Mt. Garibaldi in British Columbia to Lassen Peak in Northern California, and is part of the "Ring of Fire" which surrounds the Pacific Ocean.
At a height of 14,410 feet Mt. Rainier is the fourth highest mountain in the US, outside of Alaska, but including Alaskan peaks is the 33rd highest mountain in the United States. The mountain is one of the most massive volcanoes in the world, and it occupies about 1/4 of the land area of the park. Although Mt. Rainier is not the highest peak in the United States, its elevation rise from its base to its summit is greater than any other mountain in the lower 48 states. It is arguably the most impressive appearing mountain in this area.
Universally regarded as one of the most beautiful peaks in the entire Cascade Range, the mountain is one of the most impressive to see of any mountain in the United States. This is a result of the great height of the peak--14,410 feet--but also because it dominates so clearly the land on which it is located. Mt. Rainier towers some 8,000 feet above the surrounding mountains.
Not surprisingly, Mt. Rainier is sometimes regarded as the most photographed mountain in America. The first known color photograph of Mt. Rainier was taken on June 20, 1895, by A. C. Carpenter, taken from as far away as Tacoma, Washigton.
Famed naturalist John Muir pointed out that the great mountain appeared to be close at hand even at a distance. Muir visited the park area in 1888 and on a whim climbed the mountain to its summit, accompanied by photographer Arthur C. Warner, among others.
The "Rainier" name is a popular one in the northwest and the state of Washington. It has been given to a wide variety of things, including a brand of beer, banks, and baseball teams.
For potential visitors, ParkVision recommends "Story Behind the Scenery" guides and "Trails Ilustrated" maps.
Geological History of the Mountain Mt. Rainier is a stratovolcano, formed slowly and alternately by layers of lava from quiet flows and ash, pumice, and rock fragments from violent, explosive eruptions. Each explosive volcanic event adds another layer of material to the stratovolcano. Composite volcanoes of this type are steeper, higher, and are known to be more explosive when they erupt.
75,000 years ago it appears the mountain was symmetrical and reached a full height of 16,000 feet. The erosive action of glacial ice reduced Mt. Rainier to its present height.The volcanic surface of Mt. Rainier is easily eroded.
The land surrounding the mountain has been shaped by great mudflows originating on the mountain. There have been over 60 major mudflows in the last 10,000 years. The Osceola mudflow which occurred between 5000 and 10000 years ago, send a 100 foot wall of mud and debris at 60 miles per hourwhich cover the areas currently ocupied by Kent, Sumner, Auburn, and Puyallup. 115 square miles of land was covered.
5600 to 6600 years ago a 600 foot thick layer of slurry, rock, and mud flowed down Mt. Rainier and inundated Paradise Valley after it moved down the Nisqually Glacier.
2000 to 2500 years ago Mt. Rainier was shaken by a series of eruptions. This activity end with the building of what is currrently observed as the summit of the volcano.
500 year ago Mt. Rainier had a minor eruption, which created a mudflow with mudflow, silt, rubble, snow, ice, and large rocks and boulders. The Electron Mudflow arose from high on the western should of Mt. Rainier, and the sizeable flow buried much of the Puyallup River Valley to a depth of 60 feet.
Mt. Rainier last erupted about 2000 years ago. However, as recently as 1894 the mountain expelled pumice and ash. Between 1850 and 1894 the mountain may have erupted in this way as many as 14 times. It is considered dormant, but not extinct; steam vents on the summit provide evidence that thermal processes beneath the mountain still occur. Many scientists are certain that it will erupt again. In the Cascades, the mountain may be second only to Mt. St. Helen's in terms of volatiility, but because of its proximity to large population centers Mt. Rainier is considered the most dangerous of all the Cascade volcanoes.
More Information About the Mountain The Yakima Indian name for the mountain was Tahoma, meaning "The Mountain" of "the great mountain which gives thunder and lightening."
The upper portion of Mt. Rainier is covered by a permanent cloak of snow and ice, as it is very cold at its great altitudes. This cloak is comprised of 4 cubic miles of snow and ice which remain permanently on the mountain. The snow and ice are contained in glaciers, which flow down the flanks of the peak, and snowfields, which remain stationery.
Mt. Rainier is so large that it creates its own weather, and despite its size and overwhelming presence is often completely obscured by cloud cover. In fact, the mountain may be hidden in cloud, snowstorms, or mist for days or weeks at a time, disapointing visitors who have come to observe the mountain.
The mass of Mt. Rainier causes the mountain to have an effect similar to that of a small mountain range. It casts a "rain shadow" which causes the east slopes of the mountain to receive significantly less rain and snow than the western section." The mountain forces moist eastbound air from the Pacific to rise, cool, and condense the moisture result in rain or snow.
The cloud caps observed over the top levels of the mountain may harbor high winds, snow, sleet, or driving rain. Among the most interesting of the cloud formations over Mt. Rainier are the lenticular clouds often seen there. These mushroom shaped clouds form when warm, moist air which blowing across the peak encounter the cold ice on the peak. This forms clouds composed of fog, ice particles, and snow. When such clouds are apparent, it is a signal that there are high winds at the summit, perhaps reaching speeds up to 100 miles per hour, but also that there may be a weather change or that there is a storm on the way.
One noteworthy feature on the eastern flank of the mountain is known as Little Tahoma. This peak reaches an altitude of 11,138 feet. This jagged spire is a remnant of the part of Mt. Rainier which once formed a higher summit. In front of Little Tahoma is the formation known as Anvil Rock.
The mountain provides the appearance of ice, snow, and rocks rising above a carpet of forest, as can be seen below. This is because trees cannot grow at the highest altitudes of the mountain. The timber line on Mt. Rainier is about 7000 feet.
The "treeline" is the level above which trees do not grow on the slopes of the mountain. On Mt. Rainier, this occurs between 6500 and 7500 feet. It is the cold above this level which makes the growth of trees very difficult. In fact, the treeline is about 500 feet higher on the north side of the mountain.
Climbing the Mountain Climbing a peak as great at Mt. Rainier has presented a challenge to generations of climbers. There is no reliable solid evidence that native peoples who lived in the vicinity of Mt. Rainier before the arrival of Europeans ever reached the summit, although there are some legends to this effect. However, attempts to reach the summit began soon after settlers reached the area. In 1857, August Valentine Kautz and 4 companions made an attempt to climb the mountain and apparently reached to within 400 feet of the summit. The first documented successful climb to the summit was achieved on August 17, 1870 by P.B. Van Trump and Hayward Stevens.
Once first climbed, many successful attempts on the summit followed. In 1883, James Longmire, who later opened Mt. Rainier's first hotel, made a successful climb. In 1888, during a visit, famed west coast conservationist John Muir attempted a climb on a whim and was successful. He was visiting the park and his decision to attempt the climb was made on the spur of the moment. He was accompanied by photographer Arthur C. Warner, who took photos which later helped acquaint Americans with the magnificent scenery at Mt. Rainier. In 1890, Fay Fuller, a schoolteacher from Tacoma, became the first woman to gain the summit of Mt. Rainier. Soon thereafter, in 1891, 2 more women--Edith Corbett and Susy Longmire--also achieved the summit.
More firsts continued in time. In 1891 the first dog to clmb Mt. Rainier reached its summit. In 1921, a 16 person party took part in a marriage ceremony at the summit.
Climbing Mt. Rainier has always presented significant challenges. Because of the variety of these challenges, in 1962 Jim Whitaker, the first American to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, trained for the climb on Mt Rainier.
Climbing the mountain is still a formidable, and dangerous, challenge in the present day, but it remains a relatively popular one. Substantial numbers of people attempt the climb of Mt. Rainier each year in the present day. Paradise Valley has been the hub of climbing in Mt. Rainier National Park since early in the park's history.
The Summit The magnificent summit of Mt Rainier reaches a height of 14,410 feet. The summit, seen from the Sunrise area at about 6400 feet, is shown in the photograph below.
The summit of Mt. Rainier is composed of thin layers of andesite lava. The summit featues 2 overlapping craters, the larger one measuring 1/4 mile, or 1400 feet, across. The highest point on the rim of the summit crater is known as Columbia Crest, the portion of the mountain which reaches 14,410 feet (also reported as 14,411 feet 1 inch). This is far above the lowest point in the park at 1600 feet.
The summit of Mt. Rainier is permanently blanketed by snow and ice. The snow filled crater contains the equivalent of something like a billion gallons of water. Near the east crater wall the snow is about 200 feet thick. At over 14,000 feet, it is very cold, and the summit area is buffeted by fierce winds and encounter blizzards even during the summer season.
The current summit crater was formed when the volcano erupted 2500 years ago. Heat still emanates from the crater. The edges of the crater remain free of snow as a result of steam vents on the summit. Sulferous fumes also still escape from the summit crater. Within the summit crater itself there is a system of tunnels and steam-riddled snow caverns, as well as a pool of meltwater.
The lake in the summit crater is one surprising thing about Mt. Rainier. This "lake" stretches about 25 by 130 feet, and is about 19 feet deep. It is the world's highest lake.
The first photographs of the summit (from the summit area) was taken by Arthur Churchill Warner in 1888. He was accompanying John Muir on his climb to the summit.
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- All photographs ©Patrick Holleran, Shannon Digital Imaging, 1994-2012
- Commercial use of the images contained in this document without express written consent is strictly prohibited.
- Comments and other remarks can be sent via e-mail to parkvision@shannontech.com
