Snow Lover’s Paradise
Ski, snowshoe or sled through the winter wonderland of Mount Rainier National Park.
Meadows of wildflowers give way to thick blankets of snow at Mount Rainier’s Paradise visitors area, elevation 5,400 feet (top). Winter draws campers, hikers and snowshoers into wilderness areas like Mazama Ridge, where white powder covers alpine meadows and crystalline frost coats the trees (right). Stunning views of the mountain reward downhill skiers at nearby Crystal Mountain Resort (opposite), nestled in the Cascade Range, a few miles from the park’s northeast entrance.
Named for the mirror views of Mount Rainier refle ted in its subalpine lakes, the Refle tion Lakes area attra ts snowshoers and ross- ountry skiers to the edges of what look like frozen meadows in winter (opposite). Glissading—sliding downhill on one’s feet or butto ks—is a fast and fun way for hikers or skiers to des end slopes (above). Unique in the park’s higher elevations is the Cas ade red fox (left), one of the few spe ies of wildlife that thrives in winter. These foxes have tails with white tips, and their legs are bla k.
Snow falls early at Mount Rainier, blanketing meadows with deep drifts that can cover the ground into June. Commonly spotted are dark blue and black Steller’s jays (right), along with crows and ravens. Huckleberry shrubs produce edible berries (below). Climbers use massive Emmons Glacier as a route to reach the summit of Mount Rainier (opposite). In winter, mountaineers believe it receives some of the best powder for backcountry skiing.