Mount Rainier National Parks is among the best National Parks located in the Northwest. Mount Rainier itself is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. It stands at 14,4111 ft and is known to be an active stratovolcano. Beyond that, Rainier is home to 26 major glaciers. This means Mount Rainier has more glaciers than any other area in the contiguous United States. Glaciers are formed on the mountain due to the rapid accumulation of snow. The mountain simply cannot keep up when it comes to melting the snow off its surface.
One of the most famous trails around the park is known as the Wonderland Trail. The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile loop around the base of Mount Rainier National Park. Because this trail has become so popular over the years, permits are now required in advance to camp at any back-country campsites. The breathtaking trail features meadows, glaciers, and forests. Don’t shy away from hiking this trail on a beautiful day, but don’t expect to trek the 93 miles in just one day!
During the summer months, Rainier is blanketed in wildflowers. One of the best places to view these wildflowers is the Paradise and Sunrise Visitor Centers. It is important to always follow the National Park’s rules when it comes to staying on the trails as it affects the wildlife in the area. The foliage and wildlife around the park are vulnerable due to the number of people that visit the park each year. The National Park Service does an incredible job of keeping the park beautiful and welcoming to all visitors.
Located in Tacoma, Bellevue, and Seattle, Washington, you will find Edgeworks Climbing. Edgeworks is a climbing gym that also features guided mountain climbing and classes to help you navigate Mount Rainier and other mountains featured throughout the area. Edgeworks offers important classes you can take to understand some of the technical knowledge needed when it comes to mountaineering, or you can opt to pay a professional alpine guide to help you to the summit. Though challenging, the summit of Mount Rainier is an ever-so-popular climb. Each year, the mountain estimates up to 10,000 attempted summits. If summiting the mountain seems like a stretch, a great halfway point up the mountain is Camp Muir Bunker. In this bunker, you will find climbers resting before they begin the last half of their ascent.
For more information about Edgeworks Climbing offerings, you can visit their website and sign up for a class or guided tour.
