Mount Rainier

National Park

I don't know this park very well, having had only a short visit. My feeling is that this is a wonderful place for climbers and for residents of the Pacific Northwest, perhaps less appealing as a destination for a long journey. (Except for climbers, for whom it has considerable appeal indeed.) It has the usual national park drawbacks- crowds, traffic jams. One of the most appealing aspects of life in Seattle is the sight of Rainier on a clear day.
It has great appeal as one of the best places in the lower 48 to see a glacier up close, even for people unable to walk much of a distance. .

Forests at on the lower slopes of the mountain also have considerable appeal.

Visit the official site.

Favorite hike: Toward the glacier from White River Campground.
Favorite place to stay: White River Campground.
Favorite place to sit for hours: Looking at the peak from almost anywhere in Western Washington on a clear day. You certainly don't have to be in the park.
While in the area visit: There's so much to choose from in the area it's hard to even start. Olympic and North Cascades parks immediately come to mind.
Read: Many mountaineering books contain thrilling stories about Rainier. One I particularly like is Addicted to Danger, by Jim Wickwire.

Any comments are appreciated. Send me an e-mail!

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