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Mt. Rainier National Park
In this episode of National Park Explorer, host Sydney takes listeners on a journey to Mount Rainier National Park, a stunning destination in Washington State. Discover the park's breathtaking la...
Mt. Rainier National Park
Technology •
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Interactive Transcript
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Welcome back to National Park Explorer, the podcast that brings the wild beauty of America's
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National Parks right to your ears.
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I'm your host Sydney, and today we're headed to the Pacific Northwest to explore one of
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the most iconic and imposing landmarks in the lower 48, Mount Rainier National Park.
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Located in Washington State, Mount Rainier National Park was established in 1899, making it the 5th
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National Park in the United States. And no wonder this place earned early protection.
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Towering at 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier is the highest peak in the Cascade Range and a defining
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symbol of the region. The mountain is a massive stratovolcano, a type of volcano that is formed
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from sticky lava that clumps together, tending to grow a very steep mountain.
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Though it's technically considered active, it hasn't erupted in over a century.
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Mount Rainier National Park is more than just a single peak. It's a varying landscape of glaciers,
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wildflower meadows, ancient forests, and Cascading waterfalls. In fact, the mountain is
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home to more glaciers than any other peak of the contiguous United States, with over 25
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major ones flowing in from its icy crown. One of the park's most famous features is paradise.
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And no, that's not just a marketing hype. Paradise is the name of a region on the mountain's
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south slope and it lives up to the name, especially in mid to late summer when the meadows explore
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with wildflowers. The peen, paintbrush, avalanche lilies, and more, all against the backdrop of
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shining glaciers. It's one of the most photographed places in the park and the Paradise Inn, a historic
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lodge built in 1916, offers guests a cozy spot to stay right in the heart of this Alpine wonderland.
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For hikers, Mount Rainier offers some of the most diverse and scenic trails in the park system.
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The Skyline Trail is a must. It's a 5.5 mile loop starting from the paradise that takes you
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through meadows, past waterfalls, and up to stunning viewpoints where you can look straight onto
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the mountain's icy face. On clear days, you might even see Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens,
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and Mount Hood in the distance. For a bigger adventure, there's the Wonderland Trail,
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a 93 mile loop that circles the entire mountain. It's a challenging, multi-day backpacking
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journey that takes you through nearly every ecosystem the park has to offer. From river valleys,
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to Alpine ridges, permits for the Wonderland are competitive. But for those lucky enough to
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snag one, it is a life list experience. Of course, Mount Rainier is also a magnet for mountaineers.
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Each year about 10,000 people attempted to summit to the mountain. Most via the Disappointment
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or Emon's Glacier Reads. It's not a casual hike. This is a serious climb over crevice glaciers
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requiring technical skill, rope travel, and ice axe use. But for those trained and prepared,
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reaching the summit is an unforgettable achievement. Beyond the high altitude drama, Rainier has
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gentler charms too. The grove of the patriarchs on the east side of the park offers an easy
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stroll through an old growth forest of towering Douglas firs and western red cedars, some over
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a thousand years old. It's a quiet cathedral-like place that contrasts beautifully with the rugged
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high country. As for accommodations, the park offers two main lodges, the aforementioned paradise
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inn, and the National Park Inn at Longmeyer, which operates a year round. There are also several
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front country campgrounds like Kuga Rock and Owanapioche, as well as the remote backcountry
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sides for backpackers. Nearby towns like Ashford and Pakwood offer a range of cappons and
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invocation rentals for those wanting to just stay outside the park. Whether you're chasing wild
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flowers, trekking glaciers, or simply soaking in the mountain air, Mount Rainier Rational Park
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offers an experience that is both humbling and exhilarating. It's a place where nature feels
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vast and powerful, and yet invites you into hike to learn to reflect. That's it for today's
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episode of National Park Spore. Until next time, keep your boots dusty in your spear time,
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in your love of wild places burning bright.