There are some moments you never forget. Sights that truly take your breath away and leave you wanting to know more, go deeper, climb higher. For me, that was Mount Rainier in Washington State, when I visited family there last year. It’s stunning to see from afar, but to experience up close? That was something else entirely.
Meaningful Lands for Millenia
I’m always curious about the history of a place, and in case you are too, the land most know as Mt. Rainier National Park has been the ancestral homeland of many Native American tribes for thousands of years. In fact, archaeological evidence traces native use of the area back 9,000 years! For millennia, ancestors came to the mountain seasonally to hunt and gather resources. Elders passed along traditional knowledge through the generations, and those tribes maintain a deep connection to the mountain, remaining dedicated caretakers of the land to this day.
I don’t know about you, but I also like to know what I’m standing on! The geology of a place fascinates me, so here are a few facts there: Mount Rainier is considered an active volcano of the Cascade Range. The main portion or “edifice” we see today was created over the last half-million years by the accumulation of hundreds of individual lava flows, marking growth from its origins. That means an ancestral Mount Rainier stood in the same place from 1 to 2 million years ago.
Pioneering a National Park
Interestingly, Mount Rainier National Park was established in 1899, 17 years before the National Park Service was created in 1916. That’s because famous naturalist John Muir and a U.S. Geological Survey worker named Bailey Willis led the charge to designate Mount Rainier a national park to help preserve its unique beauty.
On trips, I always like to make the best use of my time, and this was no exception. Known to get a tad overzealous at times, I hit the ground running with my brother-in-law Larry (who’s always game for adventure, thankfully!) to pack in all I could within a few days! Here are some excerpts from my travel journal, paired with some of my favorite shots.
Love at First Sight
July 19, 2021: First look at her, 8:00 a.m. Excited to have driven the 1.5 hours to see Mt. Rainier. Even more excited to hike and shoot it. It was beyond my wildest expectations.
Mount Rainier blew me away today. It was on a whole other level. Like walking through a fairytale wonderland; a dream. Life-changing. Grateful to experience it. I need to live in the Pacific Northwest part-time.
Mastering the Mountain
July 20, 2021: Each year hundreds of mountaineers attempt to climb Mt. Rainier and conquer its summit. Today the mountain was calling…I watched dozens of them arrive at Pebble Creek for a quick rest, then to ascend to Camp Muir. Some were already challenging the summit. They appeared as tiny ants in some shots. A glacial waterfall served as a beautiful backdrop to those testing their limits.
The Scenic Skyline
July 21, 2021: We hiked 14 miles on Mt. Rainier. A scenic trek on the beautiful Skyline Trail gifted us with everything one would want to see on a hike. Waterfalls, wild flowers, snowcapped mountains, evergreens, and more. The summer wildflowers were in full bloom. Meadows and meadows of every color imaginable. Best hike I’ve ever done. However…sunset at Mt. Fremont Lookout was a very, very close second…
A Scramble to Mt. Fremont Lookout
We drove around the entire mountain exploring its many wonders. We decided to jam up the Fremont Lookout Trail to catch sunset around 7:15 p.m. Initially, the summit was cloudy. I thought we wouldn’t get the sunset we came for…lucky for us, the mountain cleared and we made it to the old fire lookout with twenty minutes of light to spare!
The only way to describe what we witnessed was pure magic. Blistered skies and violet silhouettes in the last of the light. I felt like I was chasing the color purple! It’s crazy this kind of beauty exists everywhere and for free… less a $30 park entrance free.
So Many Sensational Sights
This trip was filled to the brim with vibrant visual overload! We saw golden hour light up the summit, a frozen lake, fire in the sky, the moonrise drench the landscape for our walk down and much more. Some of these pictures speak to the journey. It’s been an incredible trip. Stoked to see the Pacific Northwest mountains and to spend time with family. Until the next adventure.