Mount Rainier

The camera stands on hard old snow at a climbing camp, and everything in the frame is either snow, rock or equipment. Two fabric shelters are dug into the slope - a tan barrel-vaulted one and a smaller red and white one - each sitting in a pit cut out of the snow with propane bottles standing beside the door and boot-tracks trodden hard between them. Above the camp the slope runs up to a dark ridge of broken volcanic rock, and over the top of that a lenticular cloud has formed: a smooth stacked lens of cloud that sits still while the wind pours through it, which on this mountain usually means weather is coming. Look the other way and the ground falls off into a level sea of cloud with the far Cascades standing out of it, and the horizon is a long way below you.

Mount Rainier, or the Mountain, as it is known to many Washington residents, is a massive stratovolcano that can be found approximately 55 miles southeast of Seattle. On days when the cloud cover isn't too heavy, you can see it looming in the distance from Seattle and many other northwest Washington cities. In fact, on very clear days, it can be seen from as far away as Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia. Of course, the main reason why Mount Rainier stands out so clearly on many Pacific Northwest horizons is its lofty elevation. It is the fifth highest mountain in the contiguous United States and leads the way among the mountains in the lower 48 in relation to topographic prominence. More specifically, the topographic prominence of Mount Rainier is 13,211 feet. To put it in perspective, K2 - the second highest mountain on the planet after Mount Everest - has a topographic prominence of 13,189 feet.

Mount Rainier is considered to be a relatively dangerous volcano. It actually figures among the 16 volcanoes that are on the dubious Decade Volcano list. This list highlights the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. Thankfully for regional residents, there is no evidence that an eruption is imminent. Historically, the mountain's early lava deposits are more than 800,000 years old, and the present cone dates back more than 500,000 years. It is interesting to note that over time, Mount Rainier was heavily eroded. In fact, the lofty peak likely stood more than 16,000 feet tall before it was shortened by a hefty debris avalanche.

Camp Muir Camp Muir is a refuge for climbers, found on Mount Rainier's southeast flank. Named after famous naturalist John Muir, it's at an elevation of 10,800'. No other camp on the mountain is more used by climbers attempting to summit, and the public shelter is available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is also a guide shelter. Both are basic. Camp Muir provides access to approaches that lead to the Mount Rainier summit, and in 1991, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. John Muir climbed Mount Rainier in 1888 and was among those who led the charge to protect the prominent peak and its immediate environs.

Climbing Mount Rainier Mount Rainier isn't exactly the easiest mountain to climb. There are large glaciers to traverse, and should you wish to reach the summit, you will have to take on a vertical elevation gain of more than 9,000 feet. Of course, climbers must also consider the weather. It can change very quickly, and it is always a good idea to get a current weather forecast before attempting a trip to the top. On average, somewhere between 8,000 and 13,000 people attempt to climb to the top of Mount Rainier on an annual basis, and about half of those people are successful. More often than not, it takes at least two or three days to complete a full climb, and all climbers must register and pay a climbing fee before they even think about strapping on their crampons. Solo climbs above the high camps and on the glaciers can only be undertaken with prior permission from the park superintendent. Check out this video of climbers who reached the Mount Rainier summit.