By Kylekotajarvi
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA
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Mount Rainier Shaded Relief
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How do you winter?
You might be thinking, “hey, it’s March and winter is over!”
That’s not quite true in the Cascade Mountains. As you go higher in elevation, it gets colder and more snow has piled up over the winter. At Paradise, we can get snow storms into June.
So while the temperatures are warming up, a little more sunshine, and days a bit longer, winter keeps a tight grip on the subalpine meadows like Paradise and Sunrise. The plants and animals are well adapted to the challenges of these winters.
For animals, there is a choice. Do you travel to warmer climates, stay and snow camp, or snooze through the cold temps? Rufous hummingbirds are our champions or long-distance travel, migrating to the south and even Mexico in search of warm temperatures and food. Pikas are big winners at snow camping. They store food in the homes under the rocks all summer so that they can stay active all winter eating their stores. Last but not least, black bears are great hibernators. While not technically sleep, the bears lower metabolism, heart rate and respiration to make their fat stores last until snow melts and food emerges.
So, how do you winter?
NPS Photo. Rufous hummingbird circa 1975. NPS/I Metzen Photo. Pika perched on rock in talus field near Lake Louise. 2018. NPS/Spillane Photo. Black Bear, which come in several colors, among plants and shrubs. 2016.
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Not many people are aware of this, but Mount Tahoma, otherwise known as Mount Rainier, is slowly but surely moving closer to the city everyday. Beginning in 2020, volcanologists noticed that the enormous peak had begun to slowly shift toward Seattle, and with her speed recently increasing, they fear we shall soon face the crushing forces of millions of tons of rock and soil as she razes through our beautiful city on her unstoppable path.
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Henry and Rainbowkitty went on a little adventure and helped find some blackberries for the jams we're gunna make! it was a super pretty day. while we were getting the berries, a gigantic moose walked right past us which was kinda scary, but cool too!!
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forgot to upload this! little sketchy painting of rainier from a photo of mine (from tolmie peak fire lookout)
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