Mo44*UIscUtu&i NATIONAL PARK I UNITED STATES Historic Events DEPARTMENT OF THE MOUNT INTERIOR 1792 Capt. George Vancouver, of the Royal OPEN British Navy, first white man to re­ HAROLD L. ICKES, Secretary ALL RAINIER cord sight of "The Mountain," named YEAR it Mount Rainier in honor of his NATIONAL PARK friend, Admiral Peter Rainier. WASHINGTON l9 41 1833 Dr. William Fraser Tomlie entered NATIONAL PARK SERVICE northwest corner of what is now the NEWTON B. DRURY, Director park. First white man to penetrate ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AT LONGMIRE this region. CO^TE^TS OUNT RAINIER NATIONAL with cinders and steam-shredded parti­ 1857 Lt. A. V. Kautz and four companions M PARK was established by act of cles, lumps of lava, and occasional flows Congress, approved by President Mc- Wild Flowers Color the Alpine made first attempt to scale Mount of liquid lava that have solidified into Kinley, March 2, 1899- A subsequent Meadows Cover Rainier but did not reach summit. layers of hard andesite rock. Judging act, January 31, 1931, extended the east "The Mountain" 3 by the steep inclination of the lava and boundary to the summit of the Cascade cinder layers visible in its flanks, it is Flowers and Forests 4 Range, the boundary recommended by thought to have once attained an alti­ Mount Rainier Summit Climb . 4 1870 Hazard Stevens and P. B. Van Trump the original bill. The park embraces tude of 16,000 feet. In subsequent ex­ Winter Sports 4 made the first successful ascent via 377.78 square miles (241,782 acres). plosions, the top 2,000 feet was de­ Fishing 5 Gibraltar route. stroyed, leaving a vast 3-mile crater sur­ Roads and Trails 5 "THE MOUNTAIN" rounded by a jagged rim. Within this, Guide Services 5 Mount Rainier, sometimes called small cinder cones were built up, form­ Administration 5 1890 The first woman, Fay Fuller, reached "the mountain that was God," rises ing the dome now constituting the main Naturalist Services 5 the summit of Mount Rainier. 14,408 feet and is the fourth highest peak, and rising 300 feet above the old Free Public Campgrounds ... 6 mountain in the United States. It is ap­ crater rim. Prominent among these are Seasons 6 proximately 11,000 feet above its im­ Point Success (14,150 feet) and Lib­ Approach Highways to Park . 7 1899 Mount Rainier National Park estab­ mediate base and covers 100 square erty Cap (14,112 feet). Motor Coach Service to Park . 7 lished by act of Congress. miles, one-fourth of the area of the Table of Mileages 7 Mount Rainier has more glaciers park. Railroad, Bus, and Airplane than any other peak in the United Unlike cone-shaped Fujiyama, Mount States proper. Five, the Nisqually, In- Services . ..... 10 1912 President Taft visited the park. Hotel and Cabin Facilities . 10 Rainier is a broadly truncated mass graham, Emmons, Winthrop, and Ta- Post Office—Telephone—Tele­ resembling an enormous tree-stump homa, originate at the top, while others, graph . 10 1913 United States Geological Survey es­ with spreading base and irregularly born of snows in immense cirques, Tables of Distances 11 tablished the elevation of Mount broken top. Its crowning snow mound merge impressively into the glistening Principal Points of Interest . : 13 Rainier as 14,108 feet above sea level. bears the proud name of Columbia armor of the great volcano. Most not­ Crest. able are the Cowlitz, Fryingpan, Car­ Like all volcanoes, Mount Rainier's bon, Russell, North and South Mowich, cone was built by its own eruptions— and Puyallup. Mount Rainier's glacial 2 Mount Rainier National Park • Washington Mount Rainier National Park • Washington 3 mantle totals more than 40 square ridges of treacherous crumbling lava Rainier National Park Co., Tacoma, Glacier for "Tin Pants" sliding, and miles. and pumice. Independent parties may Wash. to other places of interest. Summit trips climb provided there are qualified and At Paradise Valley a ski tow, 1,350 are guided as desired. Special fishing FLOWERS AND FORESTS experienced leaders. Professional guides feet long, takes skiers to a starting point parties are conducted from Paradise In glowing contrast to the glaciers and proper equipment may be obtained for downhill runs as long as 2 miles, Valley to Reflection Lake, with hiking are the multicolored wild flowers. Al­ at Paradise Valley (5,557 feet) from and a ski school with competent in­ equipment, fishing tackle, and a boat most 700 species of flowering plants, in July 1 to Labor Day (approximate structors is operated. included. Prices are reasonable. addition to hundreds of ferns, mosses, dates) for climbs via Kautz and Muir Daily saddle trips are conducted by FISHING and fungi, are found in Mount Rainier routes to the summit. Emmons route horse "wranglers" (guides) from Para­ National Park. The most noted of the starts at White River Campground No license is needed to fish in the dise Valley and Yakima Park. Special highly spectacular flower fields of the (4,500 feet) on the north side of the park. guide services and saddle horses are alpine meadows are Indian Henrys mountain. Relatively good fishing may be en­ available for trips to all sections of the Hunting Ground, Paradise Valley, Van joyed, in park lakes and streams which park. WINTER SPORTS Trump Park, Summerland, Spray Park, are stocked each year with various ADMINISTRATION Berkeley Park, and Klapatche Park. During winter months, 600 inches species of trout. Lakes are open to Mount Rainier National Park is ad­ Dense evergreen forests characterize of snow falls on mile-high Paradise fishermen from July 1 to September ministered by the National Park Serv the lower slopes along the main rivers Valley, on the south side of Mount 30, inclusive, and streams from June 1 ice, with the superintendent in immedi­ of the park. Up to the 3,000-foot ele­ Rainier, to cover the alpine area 20 feet to October 15, inclusive, unless posted ate charge. Park headquarters are at vation are seen the western hemlock, deep and provide superlative ski runs closed. Fishing tackle and bait may be Longmire. Douglas fir, western red cedar, amabilis of as long as 5 miles over expansive, purchased, and boats may be rented at and grand fir, and western yew. Be­ unobstructed terrain. The ski season Reflection Lake near Paradise Valley. NATURALIST SERVICES tween 3,000 and 4,500 feet are the opens with December, when approxi­ ROADS AND TRAILS Lectures.—During the summer, talks amabilis and noble fir, western hem­ mately 3 feet of snow is on the ground, on the natural history of this park, illus­ lock, Alaska cedar, and western white under normal weather conditions. Win­ Outstanding points of interest may trated with motion pictures and colored pine. The alpine fir and mountain hem­ ter skiing continues through January, be reached along park roads, but the slides, are offered nightly at Paradise lock are dominant at the 5,000-foot February, and early March. most spectacular scenery and fascinat­ Valley; nightly, except Sunday, at elevation, but white-barked pine and In March, April, and early May, ing natural phenomena are reached by Yakima Park and Longmire; and occa­ Engelmann spruce are also found. As warm sunshine favors Paradise Valley trails. sionally at Ohanapecosh. Programs start elevation increases size diminishes, the to bring skiing to its best. Light cloth­ Wonderland Trail, a 95-mile circuit at 8 p. m. extreme limit of tree growth being ing is worn, and skiers gain a deep of the peak, affords great pleasure to 7,500 feet. sun tan while following the exhilarat­ those who wish to enter remote areas. Museums.—Museums are maintain­ ing sport. Overnight shelters are provided along ed at Longmire and Ohanapecosh; nat­ MOUNT RAINIER SUMMIT CLIMB During the ski seasons, there normal­ the trail. ural history displays at Paradise Valley To insure safety, all prospective sum­ ly is a wide choice of hotel services at Tables indicating distances by road and Yakima Park. mit climbers must register with a Dis­ Paradise Valley on week ends and holi­ and by trail to these scenic attractions Hikes.—In summer, free hikes are trict Park Ranger at the time of start­ days (but no accommodations mid­ are given at the end of this booklet. conducted by ranger naturalists daily ing a climb and upon returning from week) and continuous service for a part from public centers to nearby features. GUIDE SERVICES the ascent. Climbers must give evidence of the spring ski season. When accom­ From Longmire—half or full day trips; that they are physically capable, have modations are not available at Paradise Rainier National Park Co. guide de­ from Paradise Valley—two hour trips had experience in similar hazardous Valley, facilities are offered at Long- partment at Paradise Valley rents com­ twice daily; from Yakima Park and climbing, and have proper equipment. mire. However, before planning a win­ plete hiking and climbing equipment. Ohanapecosh — trips of varying dis­ Mount Rainier is not an easy climb, be­ ter stay either at Paradise Valley or Professional guides lead daily parties tances. Trips are announced at lectures ing dangerously crevassed and having Longmire, it is advisable to write onto Nisqually Glacier, to Paradise and posted on bulletin boards at mus- A Mount Rainier National Park • Washington Mount Rainier National Park • Washington 5 eums and natural history displays. and Ohanapecosh are equipped with The height of the summer season is Washington, is easily accessible by fine Nature Trails.—"Trail of the Sha­ stoves, wood, tables, water, and sanitary from about June 25 to early September. highways from Tacoma, Seattle, and dows" at Longmire; "Snout of Nis­ facilities.