Mount Rainier

Majestic Mount Rainier is easily the most prominent mountain in the Cascade Range. At 14,410 feet, it can easily be seen from almost anywhere in western Washington State.

Mount Rainer is an active volcano that last erupted in the 19th century. The sides of the mountain hold several large glaciers, including Carbon Glacier, which at 700 feet in thickness and .2 cubic miles in volume is the largest glacier in the contiguous United States.

About the picture... The buildings in the foreground are part of the Fort Lewis Army installation. With Mount Rainier always in view, Fort Lewis certainly enjoys one of the most magnificent views of any military base in the world. Although the mountain's massive size makes it looks like it's within easy walking distance, it is actually 65 miles away!

Mount Rainier National Park is located about 50 miles southeast of the Seattle-Tacoma, WA metro area. It encompasses a whopping 235,625 acres on the western side of the Cascade mountain range (which of course includes Mount Rainier itself). The park offers fantastic scenic drives, hiking, and the obvious... mountain climbing.

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