Mount Rainier National Park. Here sits Washington State’s tallest mountain, and the most prominent mountain in the Cascade Volcanic Arc due to its iconic peak. It was August when we traveled up north to shoot some images of this popular attraction which is often covered with clouds. I had high hopes of getting a good photo of the mountain’s peak. The sky was clear and there were few clouds, so upon arriving at the base I was confident.
I always had a passion for capturing nature’s wonders, and so when we got the opportunity to drive north I planned on getting good images of Mount Rainier. After all, who could resist capturing such a behemoth that has attracted nearly 440,000 climbers since it was first discovered?
Aside from its beauty and splendor, what attracted me to Mount Rainier National Park is its history. The forests surrounding the mountain were often used as hunting grounds for various tribes of Native Americans, and their descendants can be seen living in these areas today. This was also a significant stop of several expeditions that were conducted during the expansion of the United States, including the famed Lewis and Clark expedition. Capturing an image of the mountain brings the feeling of capturing a piece of history as well.
Rising to over 14,400 feet, Mount Rainier’s height makes it difficult for photographers to get a photo of its iconic peak because the top is often covered by clouds. Sometimes, even during the summer, the top gets so cold that it has its own climate, creating thick clouds that make it nearly impossible to see. I mean, the mountain itself claimed 84 lives that were trying to summit its peak between 1947 and 2018. If you don’t do your research and you easily give up, chances are, you’ll probably never see the peak yourself.
Fortunately, I am neither unprepared nor easily disheartened. Brett and I planned our visit to Mount Rainier based on the weather forecasts, and I was not going to give up after traveling such a long way. Oftentimes, to get a good photograph, you need a ton of patience and be very observant to be able to get the best shot of your target.
Of course, it was also a stroke of luck that allowed me to get a glimpse of Mount Rainier’s majestic peak and take the photo that you are viewing right now. Like I mentioned, our visit to the mountain could not have been any more favorable due to the good weather that went ahead of us. Upon arriving at the park, we took the time to take in the atmosphere and immerse ourselves in the wonderful scenery that lay before us.
After unpacking my gear, I paced around, looking for the best angle to take the photo of the peak from the pull off. As I clasped the camera to ready myself for the shot, I saw some clouds gathering in the distance. They weren’t dark clouds (as the weather forecast for that day didn’t mention anything about rain, and it was the summer season), but the thought of these clouds coming over and covering the top worried me a bit that, for a brief moment, I thought of shooting quickly and calling it a day.
But that thought left my mind as soon as it entered. Confident that those clouds weren’t going to be a problem, I took my sweet time and set my camera at just the right angle. After a few more seconds, I finally saw the right frame, and took several shots of Mount Rainier’s beautiful peak. And what did you know? The clouds dispersed by the time they were almost near the mountain!
Getting a shot of Washington State’s most iconic mountain is a photographer’s dream, and I surely treasured that experience. With preparation and a good attitude, plus a stroke of luck on the side, I was able to take this amazing photo and share it with you.
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