Mount Rainier

This is an active stratovolcano in the state of Washington, the highest peak of the Cascade Mountains - 4390 meters. Yes, it is sleeping, but it is officially listed among the potentially dangerous volcanoes of the world, so it is alive, not a museum exhibit.

The mountain is about 95 kilometers southeast of Seattle, in Mount Rainier National Park. The nearest big cities are Seattle and Tacoma, from where the park can be reached by car. In clear weather, the peak can be seen directly from the city.

Summer and early autumn are the most comfortable time when the subalpine meadows are covered with flowers. In winter, it is covered with snow so much that the Paradise district accumulates an average of about 16 meters per season, so prepare not for a walk, but for a winter extreme.

The Paradise area is famous for its blooming meadows, surrounded by 26 large glaciers (Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the continental United States). For the hardy, there is a 150-kilometer Wonderland circular trail around the entire mountain.

Every year, about 10,000-11,000 people try to climb, and only about half make it. This is a technical ascent for two or three days, not for those who have worn cats for the first time, so without preparation and a guide it is better to admire from below.