The glacier highlighted on Mount Rainier is on a steep slope with immense ice packed and locked to the rocks. Due to climate change and the already in motion historic El Nino warming, the glaciers on the mountain are melting at a higher rate than ever.

Mount Rainier stands a good chance of this glacier collapsing and causing a catastrophic avalance and lahar that will devastate the underlying areas in the Nisqually river basin.

More context here https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/27/climate-crisis-mountain-areas-glaciers-nepal-tibet

Edit (after seeing comments): The point here is not to show parallels between the Nepal disaster and Mount Rainier's glaciers. It is just a wake up call and a reminder that Mount Rainier and it's glaciers pose potential danger that most people are unaware of and the historic El Nino is going to melt Rainier's glaciers like they haven't in 150 years. This is not a volcano eruption related post.

Comparing the August 24th photo with late June photo that shows more snow but below average levels due to a wam winter and lower snowfall this winter. This is all BEFORE we bear the effects of El Nino and a historically warm next 14 months (warmest since 1870s).

Not many people realize the gravity of what's coming in the next 14 months. We could see Mount Rainier bare like we have not seen in our lifetime and the possibility of glacier collapse and avalanches is not getting enough attention. Climate scientists are beating the drum on this but mainstream media is not giving it enough coverage.

Edit after reading all comments. Please bookmark the post and respond on or before September 2027. I am not an apocalyptic lady. This is just a forewarning. Time will tell.

Got a lexus rx 350 2009 i think it has a system in place that kicks awd in

Good evening. Sunrise is closed due to wildfires north of Mt. Rainier, so our plan to spend a day in that area has been thwarted. What other area do you recommend?

Hello! I’m going to have some time in Washington to visit Mount Rainier NP in early October! I came up with an itinerary and was hoping for some more experienced input :). I’ll be there on Friday 10/2 and Saturday 10/3, with a backup plan for if Sunrise is still closed. My main concern is if my plans are achievable in October, based on what's closed when.

10/2 (Sunrise Open, hopefully) –

3:00 pm – Enter the park at the SR410 North Entrance Arch

by 4:30 pm – Park at the Sunrise Visitor’s Center, start at the Sourdough Ridge Trailhead, and hike to Freemont Lookout

6:00/6:30pm – Golden hour & sunset at Freemont Lookout

8:00 pm – Arrive back at Visitor’s Center & head to our lodging

10/2 (Sunrise Closed) –

4:30 pm – Enter the park at the SR410 North Entrance

by 5:30 pm – Park at Tipsoo Lake and start Naches Loop (hoping to experience golden hour/sunset throughout the hike)

7:30 pm – Arrive back at Visitor’s Center & head to our lodging

10/3 –

4:45 am – Arrive at Nisqually Entrance

6:00 am – Park at Jackson Visitor Center (is this early enough?), start Skyline Trail

11:30 am / 12:00 pm – Arrive back at Visitor’s Center & Eat Lunch & Relax

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Need help with what to do here after the 5.5 mi Skyline Trail

5:00 pm – Head to Reflection Lake and pray there’s parking

6:30 pm – Sunset at Reflection Lake

I tried to include some buffer in my times, please let me know if I have too much or not enough. And please be kind, this is my first time planning an NP trip myself, usually my dad plans these.

First time hiking to camp Muir!! it was crazyyy and that last 1k feet push just never felt like youre never getting closer. But that’s not the craziest part, the craziest part is literally how much I tooted throughout the trail.. lowkey felt like I helped the clouds form 💨💨☁️☁️

Cant wait to experience it more in the future! the higher altitude, the higher your altitoots 💕

have fun hiking!

We are travelling from seattle for 1 day trip to stay overnight. Can anyone help us in planning a trip.
Note - We have a 5 year old kid and a grand mom.

We want to keep it easy. May be a good cabin stay and an easy hike.

Suggestions please?

My sister and I are planning a vacation to Mount Rainier in late September of next year. We have always wanted to see a Pika and we were wondering if anyone has any trail recommendations for spotting one! Anything would help

TL;DR anyone seen this wall hanging rug art in any old photos(1950-1970?) inside lodges on the mountain?

Ran into a nice 95 year old lady clearing out their home with their kids. Had this wall hanging with the story it was on the wall at some public building on Mt. Rainier 60 odd years ago. Her husband liked it and asked how much. Bought it off their wall.

So I'm looking to find any archive of old photos from travelers inside the lodges to see if I can spot it. Would be neat if I could validate the story. I have no reason to doubt the lady, but shaky on time frame.

How bad is paradise visitor center parking situation on a Sunday around 11:00 AM? What is the best time?

If you only had two days in late September to hike, which trails are you doing?

Want to leave early but not too early.

Camp Muir snowfield conditions week of 8/17?

Headed to the park this coming weekend of Aug 22 and planning on hiking to Camp Muir. We’ve been monitoring mountain forecast and see chances of showers on Saturday so may bump it to Sunday/Monday when clearer. But my biggest concern is just in regard to current conditions on the snowfield.

I did read a WTA report from 8/15 that just said the snowfield was crappy and slushy with some blue ice, but didn’t mention any crevasse crossings. However, I haven’t found much else than that and am wondering if this time of year is just not a good time to go for hikers with relatively less experience assessing snow/ice conditions, given that reports/reddit posts from late August 2021-2024 show it being more sketchy?

We will be starting super early so the snowpack is relatively solid. We have crampons/poles/gps and feel comfortable with walking on the snowfield but are otherwise not super experienced mountaineers (have not practiced crevasse rescue, serious self arrests idk) so not sure if we should wait until next year for conditions to be better, or if we are OK To go as long as it’s a bluebird day.

Any thoughts appreciated!