Urbanbeast Seattle

Stunningly beautiful and majestic Mount Rainier is the most prominent mountain in the United States with its massive summit elevation of almost 14,500 feet. The mountain is actually a stratovolcano (a conical volcano comprised of many layers and characterized by periodic eruptions and steep profiles), and is classified as one of the “most dangerous” volcanoes in the world based on its predication for future eruptive activity. That said, Mount Rainier is considered a wonderful place to visit should you be in the Seattle area, but visitors should be prepared for the weather since July and August are generally sunny and mild, with the chance of showers; but the rest of the year is usually quite rainy, with heavy snowfall from November through April. Raingear is recommended year round by the Park Department. The National Park encompasses 235,625 acres on the west-side of the Cascade Range, and is located about 50 miles southeast of the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area. Approximately 58 percent of the park is forested, 23 percent is subalpine parkland, and the remainder is alpine, half of which is vegetated and the other half consists of permanent snow and ice. Interestingly, more than 90 percent of the land in the park is under wilderness protection and in 1997 it was designated a national Historical Landmark. Still, while trails (of which there are over 300 miles) are steep and well maintained in summer they are snow covered and difficult to follow in winter, so make sure you are fully prepared for what may await you.

Comments Off