Rainier

It is difficult to describe in words.  Like the Grand Canyon, it is difficult to capture in a photograph.  All I can say is...  it is big.  It takes my breath away when I look at it.

Mt. Rainier, at 14,410 ft is the tallest mountain in the state of Washington, the fifth tallest in the contiguous states, but what really makes it seem so big is that it is a full 11,000 ft straight up from its base.  Snow capped and hosting 25 separate glaciers it is truly an amazing sight. 

We drove up to the visitor centers through dark stands of old growth Douglas fir, western red cedar and western hemlock.  We passed numerous waterfalls.  At the Paradise visitor center the snow was just melting from the parking areas on July 1st.  None of the trails from the center were open yet due to snow cover, except a single trail to the top, apparently only taken by mountaineer, ice climbing types. 

As an active volcano, Rainier, like Mt. St. Helens and other Cascade volcanoes has the potential to erupt again.  This is a fact that gave me some pause as I thought about it.  The scientists expect the mountain to give ample warning prior to entering another eruptive period, but the threat of unexpected mud-flows and glacier generated floods exists today.  I know a few scientists, and although they are brighter than I am, I still found myself looking over my shoulder from time to time.

Kathy and I really enjoyed our day in Mt. Rainier National Park, and I won't soon forget the beauty of this spectacular mountain.

Here are a few pics from the park.