Mount Rainier distinguishes itself among other Cascade volcanoes because of its immense size and its extensive snow and ice cover. About 36 square miles of snow and ice cover the mountain at summer's end -- more than on all of the other Cascade volcanoes combined. To be considered a Glacier, a body of ice must show evidence of movement commonly reported by the presence of crevasses and ice flowlines.
There are 25 major glaciers on Mount Rainier and numerous unnamed snow or ice patches. Emmons Glacier has the largest area (4.3 square miles) and Carbon Glacier has the lowest terminus altitude (3,600 feet) of all glaciers in the contiguous United States. Nisqually Glacier has heralded climatic changes by its dramatic changes in dimension within the century. The now decrepit ice caves made Paradise Glacier famous among the adventurous.
Mount Rainier's glaciers are important as indicators of climatic change, as objects of beauty, and as sources of water for hydroelectric power and recreation. Because glaciers store snow and ice during cold seasons and release it as water during hot, dry weather, they are natural and effective regulators of their water supply.
Section One of this book describes glacial processes and past glaciation within the park. Section Two specifies some places where you can observe these processes with some of their geologic effects. This book is meant as a guide to you, the observer. Use it, and add your observations to it. Take pictures. Compare glacial behavior of different years. Let the list of references guide you to more in-depth publications and those that describe related geology.
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