There was an avalanche somewhere up there last week and a climber was killed.
Local seismographs are picking up unusual shaking that seems to be coming from the glaciers. For now they are calling them "ice quakes", because the scientists have never ever seen this before so they don't quite know what to make of it. *Gulp*
The ice and glaciers can break off even without an earthquake or eruption, and the lahar would be catastrophic.
Little Tahoma
I prefer to refer to The Mountain as "Tahoma", which has always been the 'traditional' name that was changed to "Rainier" by Capt. George Vancouver. Some members of the Puyallup Tribe want to restore the name to Ti'Swaq, after an ancient band of people who lived high on the mountain. Past attempts to seriously change the name from Rainier have failed.
Gorgeous shots of "Tahoma". I didnt realize the bit of history about the name. You learn something new every day, dont you?!
ReplyDeleteHood Photo Blog
Beautiful, and thanks for the information. 'Ice Quakes' sound beautiful, but given the flooding caused by the unpronounceable volcano in Iceland that went off, the name is better than the experience would be.
ReplyDeleteA consequence of global warming, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteFantastic pics.
ReplyDeleteThe ice quakers? Probably global warming. Seems to explain everything else...
Thanks for sharing the beauty. Hope it all stays in tact.
ReplyDeleteHPB - Thanks so much! Coming from an accomplished photog such as yourself, I am humbled by your compliment.
ReplyDeleteDiane - Living on the west coast often comes at a very high price, but I wouldn't live anywhere else.
Val - It wouldn't surprise me. Almost all of the glaciers have melted in Glacier National Park in Montana. Damn shame.
WR - Thanks!
PF - Well fortunately Mt. Rainier is preseved as a National Park so no one can build on it. But if she wakes up.....