Pacific NorthWest 2009 - January Photo

Mount Rainier Winters

Shrouded in clouds, Mount Rainier possesses a winter mystique as deep snows fashion frosted trees. Snow depths average over 600 inches a year and can accumulate in excess of 30 feet. Mount Rainier gained a world snowfall record when 1,122 inches fell during the winter of 1971-72. At higher elevations, snows compress into glacial ice.