Everest of Americas

If you are considering going on a vacation of your lifetime to a mountain much like the Himalayas you should consider the Pacific Northwest before anything else. The scenic valleys, mountains, volcanoes, and bodies of water are spectacular. And above all there is Mount Rainier one of the most scenic mountains or volcanoes worldwide. Here are some interesting facts about Mount Rainier or the "tower over Seattle" which you might find interesting. Consider a definite visit because this might be as close to Everest as you can possibly get...



Mount Rainier looms over Seattle and Tacoma
At 14,400 feet it is the tallest mountain in the continental U.S. - Wikipedia

Facts about Mount Rainier

With 26 major glaciers, Mount Rainier is the most heavily glaciated peak in the lower 48 states with 35 square miles (91 km²) of permanent snowfields and glaciers. The summit is topped by two volcanic craters , each over 1,000 feet (300 m) in diameter with the larger east crater overlapping the west crater. Geothermal heat from the volcano keeps areas of both crater rims free of snow and ice, and has formed an extensive network of glacier caves within the ice-filled craters. A small crater lake, the highest in North America, occupies the lowest portion of the west crater below more than 160 feet (50 m) of ice and is accessible only via the caves.

Mount Rainier was originally known as Talol, or Tahoma, from the Lushootseed word ("mother of waters") spoken by the Puyallup. It has a topographic prominence of 13,210 feet (4,026 m), greater than that of K2. It is a prominent feature of the southern landscape in most of the Seattle metropolitan area. On clear days, it can also be seen from as far away as Portland, Oregon, and Victoria, British Columbia. Because of its scenic dominance, Seattle- Tacoma-area residents often refer to it simply as "the Mountain." [1] The effects of Mount Rainier when it erupts can be felt for 300 miles around it, sending ash all the way to Vancouver, B.C, Canada.

FYI :
K2 is the second-highest mountain on Earth.

Our trip to Mount Rainier was an unexpected one. It was a 3 hour drive from Seattle and a six hour drive from Vancouver. We were all tired and restless (including me) this meant that many of us did not want to go. But nanna, amma, thatayya persisted on going and so we decided to take the chance even though it meant three more hours of travel time.

As you can see our luck was incredible, it turned out to be a clear blue evening when we arrived and that meant that this was one of the fifty days that it would be visible.

We drove up to about 10,000 ft above sea level which is where Paradise Point is. It is where you can see Mt. Rainier the closest.

The last time we went was in 2003 when it was cloudy and Mt Rainier did not reveal its majestic peak until we were a little far away. I think we were lucky to see it because it only appears about 50 days a year and of course we were on a tight schedule. Thatayya and Atha had to leave the next morning at about 8:00 A.M so going there and coming back is a bit tough especially since we arrived close to sunset when it is freezing at about 30 degrees Fahrenheit at Paradise Point. And the temperatures will plummet into to the single digits when the sun has set. As you can see we were all freezing with our light jackets (Seattle weather is actually pleaseant year round except on mountains). And so there was only time enough for a few pictures. The way back was also tough because of the dense foliage of the forest. The trees loomed so high that they blocked the light of the stars, moon, and setting sun. There were no lights on the road except for the headlights. An overall great experience for everyone even Mavayya and Thathayya who drove through the darkness. Overall we made it back safely and above all the experience was spectacular!

This is only my first blog so I convey my apologies for any of my errors (including grammar).

H