MOUNT RAINER
WASHINGTON Visited: August 2013
Mount Rainer National Park was established 1899. The parks main feature is the active glacier volcano standing at 14,400 in elevation. There are multiple entrances into the park though some may be closed to weather.
Majority of the hikes in the park are very quick, less than 1 mile hikes along a paved walking path. Due to the extreme elevation, temperatures, and weather on Mount Rainer, the larger hikes towards the peak should only be attempted by those with the proper equipment and training. People will come from around the world to practice on Mount Rainer before attempting to climb Mt. Everest because of the similar terrain.
Although there isn’t much hiking, that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to see! When Mount Rainer isn’t in cloud cover, it can be seen all the way to Seattle! The drive to and from the park will be worth the journey!
My personal experience with Mount Rainer is limited. It was one of my first National Park experiences as an independent adult and it did not go well! I hope to go back one day!
SUNRISE VISITORS CENTER
Long story short, when I visited Mount Rainer National Park back in 2013, I was naïve college kid, following a crazy Australian. When we went to Mount Rainer, the area was almost completely covered in snow. We went to Sunrise Visitors center (after camping in nothing but a tarp and sleeping bags). They told us there was a small trail we could follow that would eventually end and would turn into a mountaineering hike without a path. It would be where people start the hike to ascend up to the base camp and eventually tot he peak. This is only possible for people who have trained for it, have the proper equipment, ect.
So essentially this crazy Australian decided it would be a good idea to try and get to the base camp. I was dumb and didn’t know any better. We tried to ascend the mountain, walking just straight up for a couple of hours in snow and fog without any supplies.
I got altitude sickness, we almost died after getting lost. I was freezing and soaked. We spent 8 hours on that mountain. 6 of which I thought we were going to die. It was awful. 10/10 do NOT recommend. I was dumb….it was my first National Park/ hiking experience as an “adult” (19 years old…) I have learned alot since then.
