Mount Rainier NATIONAL PARK Washington It the Most Superb Landmark of the Pacific Northwest
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Mount Rainier NATIONAL PARK Washington it the most superb landmark of the Pacific Northwest. It is lighten your load you can have someone meet you at a camp become confused and lost. Dogs and cats cannot be taken with Mount Rainier made doubly impressive by the mantle of glacial ice that con ground with additional supplies for the next part of your trip. you on the trails or on cross-country trips. ceals all but the most rugged peaks and ridges. In delightful We suggest that your goal for each day be about 9 miles. Be a good camper. Mount Rainier was established for its contrast to this bold and forceful landscape are the delicate Maybe you believe you can hike farther in a full day; but scenic natural beauty, and the disturbance in any way of trees, NATIONAL PARK flower-covered mountain meadows and the deep forests. The remember, this is rough country; to enjoy it thoroughly you flowers, or birds and other animals is prohibited. Green boughs mountain occupies about one-fourth of the park; the rest of the should take some time to look around and explore. Ten days must never be cut for beds. Leave a clean and sanitary camp area provides the foreground for this scenic setting. after hitting the trail you will have hiked 90 miles and com wherever you are. CONTENTS pletely encircled Mount Rainier; and you will have had an expe A Guide to the Trails of Mount Rainier National Park, which rience that will need no embellishment for your grandchildren. Page WHAT TO DO IN THE PARK gives further information on hiking, is available for sale at all Parts of the Wonderland Trail afford excellent 1-day hikes What To Do in the Park 3 Along the Trails visitor centers, or it may be obtained by writing the Superin for those who are short of time. The trail intersects the road tendent, Mount Rainier National Park, Longmire, Wash. It To Help You Enjoy the Park 7 There are more than 300 miles of trails inviting you to system at several places. For a selection of short trips along describes each trail in the system. History 8 know the park intimately. Most of the park is accessible by this trail, see the map on page 11. these trails, which lead from all campgrounds and other de The Origin of Mount Rainier 10 Other trail shelter cabins are located at Van Trump Park, By Road veloped areas. The trails are well marked and maintained, Map 11 Berkeley Park, Lake James, Deer Creek, and Lake George. The road system in Mount Rainier provides spectacular views and they will take you to the beauty spots of this mountain Glaciers 14 Show that you are an experienced hiker; learn and observe which are representative of the park. It has been said that wonderland. Many of the trails will also take you into truly Climate 16 the rules given below. these roads do not follow the most direct routes; but you see primitive wilderness areas, through alpine meadows, past water Flowers and Forests 16 Be extremely careful with fire. Hikers must obtain fire magnificent scenery along the way. The roads from Nisqually falls and placid lakes, alongside the glaciers, and atop high Wildlife 19 permits in advance. Observe strictly the fire rules on page 22. peaks and crags with ever-changing views of Mount Rainier. Entrance to Paradise and from the northeast boundary to Publications About the Park 20 Stay on the trails. If you have the urge to leave the trails, Ohanapecosh are open all year, although snow conditions may Without doubt, a hike into the wilderness will be the high How To Reach the Park 20 control it. The trails were built as avenues leading you to the cause the roads to be closed for short periods. Tire chains light of your trip whether it be to a glacier, through the scenic areas of the park, and if you stay on them, you will not Where To Stay 21 are required for part of the drive during the winter. mountain parks, or to a point where you can capture a sunrise Services in the Park 21 reflection of Mount Rainier on film. Trail trips range in Help Protect Your Park 22 length from 15-minute walks over self-guiding nature trails Mount Rainier. Administration 24 to hikes that may extend over a period of several days. MISSION 66 24 The Wonderland Trail is one of the most unique and fasci Visitor-Use Fees 24 nating single trails in any of the National Parks. This around- the-mountain route crosses snowfields; skirts glaciers; winds Your visit to Mount Rainier will be rewarding. The memo through dense forests; and crosses countless streams, some ries of your trip and the scenes you capture on film will long muddy, some clear. It is almost entirely in primeval, virgin remain a stimulating source of inspiration. We, of the Na forest areas. It reaches many lakes, passes through high moun tional Park Service, are here to help you see and understand tain meadows, and up into the rocky regions above tree line. these landscape treasures, and we are here to preserve this park It drops down into deep and shadowy canyons, climbs again for all other visitors to see and enjoy as you have. You can to the next ridgetop, and offers a new experience. help us protect your park and all that it contains so those who If you are looking for adventure, this is it. It is a dream visit in the years to come will find it as beautiful as it is today. come true for the lover of wilderness country and an accom Mount Rainier was established by an act of Congress on plishment worthy of any outdoorsman. The feeling of freedom March 2, 1899, as our fifth National Park. It contains nearly from the normal routine and worries develops as soon as you 380 square miles of some of the most spectacular scenery and leave the trailhead. New experiences lie ahead, so take plenty primitive wilderness in the Cascade Range. of film. Mount Rainier, a towering, ice-clad, dormant volcano, is Along the Wonderland Trail there are shelter cabins at the primary feature of the park. It lies a few miles west of Indian Henrys Hunting Ground, Klapatche Park, Sunset Park, the Cascade Range crest and rises 14,410 feet high, making North Mowich, Mystic Lake, Summer Land, Indian Bar, and Nickel Creek. The shelter cabins are open on one side, and are equipped only with outdoor fireplaces; bring your own The National Park System, of which this park is a unit, is sleeping and cooking gear. Campgrounds along the route are dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic at Ipsut Creek, Yakima Park, White River (closed for the heritage of the United States for the benefit and enjoyment of its people. 1962 season), and Longmire. You can reach them by automo bile, so you will not have to carry food for the entire trip. To 2 3 Mountaineering Yakima Park: Visitor center, alpine flower garden, Emmons Climbing Mount Rainier is no easy task. It is a difficult Vista self-guiding nature trail, evening programs each night route over ridges of crumbling lava and along inclined and except Sunday, trail trips and flower walks, powerful bin deeply crevassed glaciers and icefields, yet about 400 climbers oculars for watching mountain climbers and mountain goats, are successful in reaching the summit each year. Independent orientation talks, sales publications and color slides, and parties may climb the mountain between May 30 and Labor information service. Day when the routes are officially open, provided they have Ipsut Creek: Information service; short trail trips; camp- qualified and experienced leaders. In the interest of safety, fire programs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights; sales all summit climbers must register with a park ranger at the publications and color slides; and orientation talks. time of starting and upon returning. Climbers must give Sunrise Point: Orientation talks on Sundays only. evidence that they are physically capable, have proper equip Throughout the park: Look for roadside and trailside ex ment, and have had experience in similar hazardous climbing. hibits and orientation markers describing points of interest Rules and regulations for summit climbs may be obtained from and natural features. the office of the park superintendent. If you have any questions, ask the man in the Park Service The route up the Ingraham Glacier is the most popular, since uniform. Members of the staff of Mount Rainier National it is almost entirely over ice and snow. The ascent is made in Park are here to help you and to make your visit an enjoyable 2 days, with the first night being spent at Camp Muir, a rock and safe one. shelter at 10,000 feet. Early the next morning, the climbers HISTORY Aerial view of summit crater. The dark area at the upper continue on to the summit, this time roped together. The The first record of a white man's seeing "The Mountain" is right corner of the picture is north. Another face of Mount Rainier. return is usually by Camp Muir, where a short rest stop is found in the log of Capt. George Vancouver of the British taken, and back to Paradise. Royal Navy. On May 8, 1792, he saw a snowy mountain from two men climbed the mountain by what we today call the Stevens Canyon, White River-Yakima Park, West Side, Car A concession-operated guide service is provided under con near Port Townsend and named it after his friend, Rear Ad Gibraltar route.