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		Mount Rainer National Park Reprinted from May 2006 Issue -by ROSSELLA BRINA At 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier dominates the surrounding forested foothills with no other major mountain close by to compete for attention. As a result, when the glacier-clad peak sparkles in the sunlight, the mountain is an awe-inspiring sight. And there are reasons to treat this giant with respect. After all, it is still an active volcano, although the most recent documented eruptions occurred during the early to mid-1800s. As volcano goes, Mount Rainier is a relatively young one, only about one million years old, but itís the highest volcanic peak in the Cascades. It was formed not as the result of one great cataclysm, but by many years of volcanic activity that alternated sluggish lava flows to explosive eruptions of ash and rock. Mount Rainier National Park encompasses the slopes of this majestic mountain and contains large expanses of old-growth forest, waterfalls, glaciers, and meadows that brim with wildflowers in the summer. Mount Rainierís thirty-five square miles of glaciers are made up of billions of cubic feet of water, making this the largest single-peak glacier system in the nation. Roads lead to vantage points on both sides of the mountain, each with its own breathtaking views. The park offers a wide variety of recreational activities, from easy guided walks with park rangers, to mountain climbing and backpacking in the summer, to cross country skiing and snowshoeing during the winter. Established in 1899, the park has its headquarters at Longmire, near the Nisqually entrance, on the parkís southwest corner. From there the road climbs thirteen miles to Paradise, at an altitude of 5,400 feet, where you can follow paved trails to a close-up view of this spectacular mountain, or you can rest at the old Paradise Lodge. From here you can also start up toward the climbersí 10,000-foot base camp at Camp Muir. Mount Rainier National Park offers over 240 miles of maintained trails. For expert backpackers who want to explore the parkís many varied features, the Wonderland Trail offers a 93-mile hike that circumnavigates the mountain. Our family favors hikes that are much shorter, but rewarding as well. Among them is the Silver Falls Trail. Silver Falls Trail is a 3-mile round-trip hike with a gradual gain in elevation of about 300 feet. The trail starts from the Ohanapecosh Campground, on the southeast corner of the park, and proceeds along the Ohanapecosh River. We enjoy walking with the gurgling of the nearby water as background. Silver Falls is a beautiful sight in the midst of the deep green of the forest, and the roaring of the cascading water—which tumbles seventy-five feet—is exciting. Allow one and a half to two hours for the round trip. Not far from Silver Falls, and northwest of the Stevens Canyon Entrance station, is the trailhead that leads to the Grove of the Patriarchs. This is a short and easy hike, only 1.5 miles round-trip with no elevation gain. The trail follows the Ohanapecosh River and leads to a grove of thousand-year-old trees. Isolated on an island, these ancient Douglas-firs, western hemlock and western red cedars were protected by fire, thus growing to gigantic proportions. Allow about one hour for the round trip. Entrance to the park is $15 per vehicle, and itís good for seven days. Sunny summer weekends are particularly busy, and parking may be hard to find at some of the most popular destinations. For more information, call Mount Rainier National Park at (360) 569-2211 or visit www.nps.gov and click on Parks & Recreation.