Rocktype UNKNOWN
Altitude 4392m a.s.l
Faces N

Hill features

At 14,411' (4392m), Mount Rainier (also known as Tahoma or Tacoma) is the highest peak in the Cascades and the state of Washington, and one of the most beautiful mountains in America. Towering over the surrounding peaks, Mount Rainier is an incredible sight when it's not hiding in the clouds! With twenty-six named glaciers, this is the most glaciated peak in the U.S.A., outside of Alaska. Three summits rise above 14,000 feet, Liberty Cap (14,133'), Point Success (14'150') and Columbia Crest (14,411), the true summit. Two overlapping craters exist on the summit.

Rainier is an active volcano that last erupted in 1894. It's on the list of the 'Decade Volcanoes' - the most likely in the world to cause substantial harm to people and property if they erupt. The main hazard from an eruption of Rainier would come from melting of the glaciers and the resulting mudflows or lahars down the surrounding river valleys.

The easiest routes up Rainier have low technical difficulty, but are heavily crevassed with snow bridges that open up as the summer progresses. The Disappointment Cleaver route is usually marked out by guiding companies and ladder bridges are installed over several crevasses. Rainier's prominence over the surrounding peaks and its proximity to the coast lead to severe weather and strong winds - be sure to check the weather forecast before you commit!