The Mountain is Out

“The Mountain is out!” If you say this, just about any Washingtonian will turn to look, because they know exactly what you mean. There in only one Mountain (with a capital M). It is Mount Rainier. This is because, on a clear day, it is visible to almost everyone who lives here. Standing over 14,400 feet tall, it is not only the highest peak in Washington State, but in the entire Cascade range. (A unifying symbol of a state with diverse landscapes and communities, the Mountain was chosen to represent Washington on the state’s quarter.)

Left: A view of Rainier from Seattle.

The Mountain is a magnificent place… a wonderland of old growth, temperate rain forest, alpine meadows that bloom like a festival in early summer, and wicked glacier fields and craggy peaks year around. It is a magnet for hikers, climbers, skiers and other wilderness sport enthusiasts. The entire mountain resides inside Mt. Rainier National Park and the vast majority of the park is designated as wilderness, which means it is protected by strict conservation laws but is also accessible for certain types of (non motorized) recreation. Rainier is a live volcano (although there has been no significant activity for over a hundred and fifty years) and lahar (volcanic mudslide) warning systems are installed in towns near the mountain.

It is also, simply, a sight to behold. Rising from surrounding miles of evergreen forest, it dominates the skyline. And, when someone says “the Mountain is out,” it is the best of days. It means the sky is clear and the beauty of the region is in its full glory. Like today.