The Crown of Washington: Getting to Know Mount Rainier

The Crown of Washington: Getting to Know Mount Rainier

Okay, so you want to know what’s the highest point in Washington? It’s Mount Rainier, hands down. But it’s so much more than just a tall mountain; it’s kind of a big deal around here. We locals often just call it “The Mountain,” like it’s the only one that matters. And honestly, when you see it towering over the landscape at 14,410 feet, you kind of get why.

Rainier’s not just the highest spot in Washington; it’s also the most prominent mountain in the Lower 48. That means it rises higher above the surrounding terrain than any other peak in the continental US. Pretty cool, right?

Now, Mount Rainier is part of the Cascade Range, that chain of volcanoes that runs all the way from Canada down to California. It started forming about a million years ago, thanks to a whole lot of lava flows and eruptions. See, the Juan de Fuca Plate is sliding under the North American Plate – a process that’s been shaping this whole area for ages. And while Rainier is technically an active volcano, don’t worry too much; its last real activity was way back in the 1890s.

The mountain itself is made up of layers of lava and ash. Over time, all those lava flows built up, creating the massive structure we see today. And speaking of structures, the glaciers have really carved up the mountain over the years.

Oh, and those glaciers? Rainier’s got a ton of them – the biggest single-mountain glacier system in the US outside of Alaska, in fact! We’re talking about 26 major glaciers and a whole lot of permanent snow. All that ice feeds five major rivers, which is pretty important for us.

Fun fact: up on the summit, there are actually two craters, and inside one of them, there’s a little lake – the highest lake in North America! You can only get to it through ice caves, which sounds like something out of a movie.

Before the Europeans showed up, the local tribes – like the Nisqually and Puyallup – knew this mountain inside and out. They used it for hunting and gathering, and they had their own names for it, usually meaning something like “big mountain” or “where the water starts.”

The first people to officially climb Rainier were Hazard Stevens and Philemon Beecher Van Trump in 1870. Can you imagine what that must have been like? Then, John Muir, the famous conservationist, climbed it in 1888 and helped get it protected as a national park.

And that’s exactly what happened in 1899: Mount Rainier National Park was born! It’s the fifth national park in the US, and it’s got everything from ancient forests to wildflower meadows to, of course, that massive, icy mountain. There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails, so if you’re ever in the area, you should definitely check it out.

So, whether you call it Mount Rainier, Tahoma, or just “The Mountain,” it’s a pretty special place. It’s a reminder of the power of nature and a symbol of Washington State. And trust me, seeing it in person is something you won’t forget.