Mt. Rainier -- A Place of Joy, Reverence, & Humility

Mount Rainier looms over the Pacific Northwest like a queen. She says to us, “Come sit with me awhile.” And we do.

This course will have two online lectures at 7:00 PM. No field trips with this version

Do you hike its trails and wonder about the place? When did that rock form, what is the name of that plant or tree, or maybe why things are different here than on last week’s trail? Sourdough Ridge is young; those rocks solidified shortly after this volcano was born. Rampart Ridge is even younger, but then the old man, Goat Island Mountain, saw all of these come about. What else might be lurking beside each footstep?

Oh, those flowers, the fragrances in July and August, are something to the mind. What about the trees, big ones in the valleys, but those on the higher ridges, so much to absorb? Birds, insects, and mammals all bring a flutter to the heart. Relationships are so vital to us and equally valid in the Cascades. Landscapes to trees, trees to birds, flowers to pollinators, predators, all about relationships, time, and so much more. Do some of these interactions send delight and amazement through your arteries?

Why do we return to our homes feeling like a new person after a day on these trails?

LECTURES ONLY IN THIS VERSION OF THE COURSE.

GOALS: Join us in this class and on the trail. Our goal is to

• Feed your love, respect, and reverence for the wild
  • Outcome: Articulate your feelings about the park and how it influences you. Because the place is special, different groups have their name for the mountain: Tahoma, Takhoma, Rainier, and Ta-co-bet. We will discuss its character and how it affects us.
  • Outcome: Understand and feel your sense of “awe” as you experience or think about this section of the Cascades.
• We will explore geology, plants, animals, and time to enhance our understanding of what we see and cultivate our enjoyment of these wildlands.
  • Outcome: Know and use apps, tree guides, flower guides, and others
  • Outcome: Be familiar with the geologic history of the park
  • Outcome: Know where to go to see some of what we discuss.
• Build your sense of this planet and our time on it. Let the place make you humble like maybe never before.
  • Outcome: Have a general understanding of the formation of Washington, the processes that formed Mt. Rainier, and some of the events as seen in its landscape. Be able to talk about the park’s geology, timeline, climate, and change.
• Cultivate your commitment to Mountaineers’ values of “leave no trace” and “do no harm.”

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