Summerland Trail

The camera stands in the meadow itself, low enough that the heather and the low mat of subalpine growth fill the bottom of the view and a small meltwater stream runs past the tripod over granite boulders. Ahead the ground rolls away in open green shoulders with scattered stands of subalpine fir, and the whole head of the valley is Mount Rainier: a broad glaciated dome, the ice on its east side cut through by rock ribs, with a sharp dark spire standing off to one side of the summit. The scale is difficult here, because there is nothing familiar between you and the mountain to judge it against. This is a narrow band of a panorama rather than a full sphere - the picture is the strip from the meadow to the sky, which is the part of Summerland worth having.

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.