Mount Rainier National Park (1952)

one of our best-known national parks leads Mount relocated about 50 miles from Puget Sound in the state of Washington Mount Ranier we look out over the ridges and valleys of the Cascade Range these high mountains form a wall or barrier to the westerly winds that blow from over the Pacific Ocean [Music] they bring warm moist air to the cool land the moist air turns into clouds that float into the mountain valleys as the clouds are forced higher they drop their moisture as snow or rain the Pacific Northwest has an unusual climate the summers are cool and the winters are mild and it has a greater amount of rainfall than any other part of the United States if we were to explore a mountain carefully we should see that plant and animal life change as we travel upwards we shall see this change on Mount Ranier from sea level up to about 4500 feet is the zone of forests [Music] from this level up to about 6500 feet is the zone of meadows [Music] and from this level up to the very top is the zone of ice and snow let us explore these life zones starting with the zone of ice and snow where there is very little plant or animal life here the great thickness of snow collected over the centuries has formed rivers of ice known as glaciers they have been gnawing at the sides of the mountain since the Ice Age many thousands of years ago there are 26 glaciers on Mount Ranier of which 11 are fairly large [Music] Nisqually is one of the best examples of the larger glaciers starting from the snow very slowly down the mountainside the broadly curved cracks prove that the ice moves faster in the center and at the sides the glacier becomes wider as it and down its path and the cracks become law an open crack such as this one is called a crevasse it may reach down more than a hundred feet because most place tears are several hundred feet thick this zone of eternal winter covers almost half the mountain [Music] mountain climbers are tied to one another with strong rope for reasons of safety they must use an ice axe with which to chop steps in the ice and to field beneath the snow for a possible hidden province [Music] the lower part of Nisqually glacier fits snugly into its u-shaped belly exploring Nisqually Valley we find tato falls tumbling over the steep valley wall upstream beyond the falls we see the front of the glacier at first glance it is hard to locate because it is covered with volcanic ash the dark wet spot where moisture is seeping through is the actual front of the glacier as the ice melts it leaves behind many boulders which it is carried down the mountainside [Music] from beneath the ice a torrent of muddy glacial water carries its heavy load of finely ground rock in the midday high-water stage boulders - are carried far downstream the Nisqually River is like a silver thread as we looked down from a high point this enormous belly gives us an idea of the great moving power of ice a glacier grinds and wears away the rock along its path it digs or excavates a u-shaped valley with steep sides and a broad floor [Music] glaciers also build riches and hills from the stones they gather and later set down again for example Emmons glacier is a good builder of stony riches here we find just such a rich along the edge of the glacier it is called a more rain there are many kinds of moraines but they are all made by glaciers depositing or setting down stones and gravel along their melting edges the glaciers rivers to deposit stones and gravel along their path and now we shall explore the mountain meadows on which reaches down from the edges of everlasting snow to an elevation of 4500 feet this is a zone of lovely mountain flowers graceful slender trees and beautiful mountain lakes gentle summer rain and melting snow the rich volcanic soil warm summer breezes and the loving touch of Sun together they give us meadow Stickley covered with colorful blossoms the avalanche lily is one of the first spring flowers spring comes late in the meadows for the snow does not melt until late June and early July and snow closes in again in September [Music] the anemone prefers the sunny open spaces where the soft soil is warm while the red Heather grows in great clusters on the cool banks sunny blossoms of stink foil carpet the open spaces between Alaskan cedar and hemlock trees hear the Canadian Jay finds shelter he's a greedy little fellow always trying to stuff more into his beak than it can possibly hold the friendly golden-mantled ground squirrel also makes his home in the Meadowlands he fills his cheek pouches with nuts and grain scampers off to unload his loot and bounce back again for more throughout the meadows zone Claire screams melting snow banks stumble over rocky ledges reminding us for the plentiful moisture no wonder the name Cascades meaning waterfalls was given to this range of mountains [Music] in this life zone we find slender but sturdy trees whose boughs sweep downward much of the heavy snow slips off their branches and so they live through the winter unharmed [Music] along the marshy banks of the lakes and streams we are likely to find Jefferies shooting star another which likes its feet cold and wet is the white marsh marigold it's snowy white petals glisten against the deep green leaves in contrast the Scarlet penstemon grows on the driest banks where the soil is warm near the lower edge of the meadow zone is the tall showy bare grass it is called bare grass because in the autumn its bushy flower head becomes a mouthful of berries for Blewett the big American black bear he enjoys a fat ground squirrel or a fish now and then or even a deer he should be left alone for he is not a friendly fellow [Music] now we leave behind the ice and snow the flower fields and graceful trees we shall go down to the lower elevations down to the forest zone where the valets are velvet green the forest zone reaches from the 4500 foot elevation down to sea level [Music] spring comes early here by the middle of July the elderberries have ripened the deer usually find their own food but where people feed them they become quite tame indeed quite bold especially when they can get tidbits people should be careful for the deer may strike out with their sharp front hoofs giant ferns and alder trees grow on the sunlit edge to the forest in the Twilight shade deep in the forest are smaller ferns and moss growing on decayed logs underfoot there is a carpet of lichens thick and soft and delightfully cool the climate of the forest zone is ideal for the growth of big trees the cool summers the mild winters plentiful moisture and the rich volcanic soil these are the reasons why we find the stately trees such as Douglas fir spruce and Western hemlock out-of-door work is healthful in this mild climate the big trees go to the markets of the world in the form of a thousand products all from the forest zone and all because of the climate in this brief visit to the Pacific Northwest we have explored Mount Ranier the old slumbering volcano not only because of its famous glaciers and its lovely flower meadows but also because of its interesting life zones we have seen have a climate of western waters given us a region of great beauty and forests of great value [Music]