Books on Mt. Rainier NP
MPG V2.7, July 2010

As I'm working on the Mt. Rainier NP photography guide I've managed to collect a considerable number of books, articles and reports specifically written about Mt. Rainier NP or have significant parts of the book about Mt. Rainier NP. Some of the books have been superceded with newer editions and some are simply out of print anymore, but most are available from local or on-line bookstores. In addition I will add some personal notes about some which I feel better explains the book or its usefulness.

General

This section is for general information and background books, historical books, ethnography books, personal essays, and whatever else doesn't fit into the other catagories.

"The Big Fact Book about Mount Rainier", Bette Filley, Dunamis House, 1996. This books is dated and out of print, but is excellent for all the pre-1996 information.

"Mount Rainier National Park, Tales, Trails and Auto Tours", Jerry and Gisela Rohde, Mountain Home Books, 1996. Same story as above, dated and out of print, but a good background reference.

"Road Guide to Mount Rainier National Park", Barbara and Robert Decker, Double Decker Press, 1996. This is more a pamphlet than a book but a good introduction to a road tour through the NP.

"Adventure Guide to Mount Rainier", Jeff Smoot, Chockstone Press, 1991. Quite dated and out of print, but useful.

"National Park City Park, Mount Rainier in the Twentieth Century", Theodore Catton, University of Washington Press, 2006.

"Windshield Wilderness, Cars, Roads and Nature in Washington's National Park", David Louter, University of Washington Press, 2006.

"Takhoma, Ethnography of Mount Rainier National Park", Allan H. Smith, Washington State University Press, 2006. An update to the 1963 study.

"The Measure of the Mountain", Bruce Barcott, Sasquatch Books, 1997. Always a good read from a personal perspective.

"Wilderness Above the Sound, The Story of Mount Rainier National Park", Arthur D. Martinson, Roberts Rhinehart Press, 1994. Out of print, but a really nice, neat historical photo book and worth the price.

"Wilderness in National Parks", John C. Miles, University of Washington Press, 2009. This book in an overview of the designation of wilderness in all the national parks. Mt. Rainier NP is discussed on pages 55-59.

Nature

This section is for nature books on Mt. Rainier or with chapters on Mt. Rainier on the geology, flora, fauna and environment of the NP.

"Mount Rainier, A Visitor's Campanian", George Wuerthner, Stackpole Books, 2000 (Website doesn't have direct link to book).

"Flora of Mount Rainier National Park", David Biek, Oregon State University Press, 2000. The reference book for flora in the NP.

"Forests of Mount Rainier", William H. Moir, Northwest Interpretive Association, 1989. Out of print but the book on forestry of the NP.

"Wildflowers of Mount Rainier", Laird R. Blackwell, Lone Pine Press, 2000.

"A Pocket Guide to the Plants and Animals of Mount Rainier", Joe Dreimmiller, self-published through Elton-Wolf Publishing, 1999.

"Cascadia, The Geologic Evolution of the Pacific Northwest", Bates McKee, McGraw-Hill Books, 1972. Dated and long out of print, but a good overview of the Cascade Mountain Range.

"Fire Mountains of the West", Stephen L. Harris, Mountain Press Publishing, 1988. Updated from the 1976 "Fire and Ice" version and with a good chapter on Mt. Rainier.

"Hiking Washington's Geology", Scott Babcock and Bob Carson, Mountaineers Books, 2000. Out of print. Excellent chapters on selected areas in the NP.

"Roadside Geology of Washington, David Alt and Donald Hyndman, Mountain Press Publishing, 1984. This book as two chapters on Highways 7 and 706 route and Highways 410 and 123 route, pages 151-159.

"Waterfall Lover's Guide, Pacific Northwest", Gregory A. Plumb, Mounaineers Books, 2004.

"Waterfalls of the Pacific Northwest", David L. Anderson, Countryman Press, 2007.

"The Geology of Mount Rainier National Park", Howard A. Coombs, University of Washington, 1936. A long outdated report on his PhD work, but interesting.

Hiking and Climbing

This section is for hiking and climbing books and some historical and guide books. Please note the trails and hiking books don't have the correct distance for the Carbon River Road trails.

"Hiking Mount Rainier National Park", Heidi Schneider and Mary Skjelset, Falcon Press, 2005. Available in large and pocket sized versions.

"Day HIking Mount Rainier, National Parks Trails", Dan A. Nelson, Mountaineers Books, 2008.

"50 Hike in Mount Rainier National Park", Ira Spring and Harvey Manning, Mountaineers Books, 1999. An updated version of the 1988 version, and replaced with "Day Hiking Mount Rainier", above.

"Day HIke Mount Rainier", Ron C. Judd, Sasquatch Books, 2002.

"Mt. Rainier Trails", Paul Hodge, Sound and Mountains Publishing, 2006. The most comprehensive book on trails.

"Discovering the Wonders of the Wonderland Trail Encircling Mount Rainier", Bette Filley, Dunamis Press, 2006. Still the only exclusive book on the Wonderland Trail. Excellent for the trail and overview but update the information with the latest information from the NPS.

"The Challenge of Rainier", Dee Molenaar, Mountaineers Books, 1987. Out of print, but excellent history.

"Mountain Fever, Historic Conquests of Rainier", Aubrey L. Harris, Univesity of Washington Press, 1962, reprinted 1999. Again, very dated, but excellent history.

"Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes, Volume 1: Columbia River to Stevens Pass", Fred Beckey, Mountaineers Books, 2000. Excellent section on Mt. Rainier.

"Mount Rainier, A Climbing Guide", Mike Gauthier, Mountaineers Books, 2005. The book on climbing Mt. Rainier.

Photography

This section is for photography and photo essay books on Mt. Rainier National Park.

"Washington's Mount Rainier National Park, A Centennial Celebration", Tim McNulty and Pat O'Hara, Mountaineers Books, 1998. The only real book photo essay book on the NP you need.

"Mount Rainier National Park, Realm of the Sleeping Giant", Pat O'Hara and Tim McNulty, Woodlands Press.

"Mount Rainier, Views and Adventures", James Martin and John Harlin, Sasquatch Books, 2001.

"Mount Rainier National Park Impressions", Charles Gurche, Farcountry Press, 2003.

"Mount Rainier", Don Geyer, Hancock House Press, 2005.

"Mount Rainier National Park", Ron Warfield, Sierra Press, 1998. Out of print.

"Mount Rainier, The Story behind the Scenery", Ray Snow, KC Publications, 2004. Two volumes book.

"Color Hiking Guide to Mount Rainier", Alan Kearney, Frank Amato Publications, 1999. Limited print book.

"National Park Photography", Tim Fitzharris, AAA Publishing, 2002. Good short chapter on the NP.

Government

This section is for selected US government publications on Mt. Rainier or the NP. There is a ton of scientific studies published in reports and articles on Mt. Rainier by the US Geological Survey, National Park Service, etal, far too many to list here, so the list is just some I find interesting for some insight and information on the NP.

" Roadside Geology of Mount Rainier National Park and Vicinity", Patrick Pringle, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Information Circular 107, 2009. This is a new and excellent book, and worth the price or download to read before your visit.

"Natural Vegetation of Oregon and Washington", Jerry Franklin and C.T. Dryness, USDA Forest Service, 1973. This has been updated but I don't have the new edition.

"A Visitor's Guide to Mount Rainer Glaciers", Carolyn Driedger, Pacific Northwest National Parks and Forests Association, 1986. An excellent short guide to the glaciers. Available at the NP (Paradise) bookstore but not presently available in digital format.

"Geology of Mount Rainier National Park Washington", Richard Fiske, etal., USGS Professional Paper 444, 1963. Dated but interesting.

"Volcanic Hazards at Mount Rainier Washington", Dwight Crandell and Donal Mullineaux, USGS Bulleting 1238, 1967. Again, dated but interesting.

"Surficial Geology of Mount Rainier National Park Washington", Dwight Crandell, USGS Bulletin 1288, 1969. Again, dated but interesting.

"The Geologic Story of Mount Rainier", Dwight Crandell, USGS Bulletin 1292, 1969. Again, dated but an excellent report.

"Geomorphic Change Caused by Outburst Floods and Debris Flows at Mount Rainier, Washington, With Emphasis on Tahoma Creek Valley", Carolyn Driedger, USGS Water Resources Investigations Report 93-4903, 1994. Another interesting study on my favorite area in the NP by a friend.

"Sedimentology, Behavior, and Hazards of Debris Flows at Mount Rainier, Washington", K.M. Scott, J.W. Vallance and P.T. Pringle, USGS Professional Paper 1547, 1995. Good overview of the mountain's potential risks.

"Glaciers of Mount Rainier", Israel Cook Russell, with additional paper, "The Rocks of Mount Rainier", by George Otis Smith, in US Geological Survey 18th Annual Report, 1896-97, Part II, pages 349-423. This is first study of the glaciers of Mt. Rainier. Obviously dated, but worthwhile with photos.

"Mount Rainier Forest Reserve, Washington", Fred G. Plummer, US Geological Survey 21st Annual Report, 1899-1900, Part V, pages 81-143. (Not available as on-line version). This is the first study of the forests and timber resources of the whole reserve including Mt. Rainier NP. Also, obviously dated but worthwhile with photos and original map.

Miscellaneous

This is a collection of miscellaneous books I've discovered which are interesting, mostly from a historical perspective.

"Mount Rainer, A Record of Exploration", Edmond S. Meany, The MacMillan Company, 1916. An excellent compilation of papers on Mount Rainier by various scientists and travellers. Link is a digital verision (DJVU) of the original book.

"Our Greatest Mountain, A Handbook for Mount Rainier National Park", F. W. Schmoe, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1925. The first overview of the NP by the then Park Naturalist. Long out of print but often available in libraries and used or antique bookstores.

"Our Greatest Mountain and Alpine Regions of Wonder", A. H. Barnes, National Park Art Series, 1911. My copy was a pre-publication verson of a formal NPS publication after 1916.

"Mount Rainier, It's Human History Association", H. E. Rensch, National Park Service, Field Division of Eduction, 1935. A typewritten report for educators.

The Mountaineers, Annual issue, published 1907-1980. The early years has several articles about Mt. Rainier, which are listed below.

    "The Glaciers of Mount Rainier", Israel Russell, Vol. 2, pg. 16-25, 1908.
    "Mapping Mount Rainier", F.E. Matthes, Vol. 3, pg. 53-54, 1910.
    "The Undescribed Glacies of Mount Rainier", F.E. Matthes, Vol 5, pg. 42-57, 1912.
    "Around Mount Rainier with the Mountaineers", P.G. Rogers, Vol. 8, pg. 9-26, 1915.
    "The Survey of Mount Rainier", F.E. Matthes, Vol. 8, pg. 61-66, 1915.
    "The Geological Study of Mount Rainier", E.J. Saunders, Vol. 8, pg. 67-72, 1915.
    "The Glaciers of Mount Rainier", R.H. McKee, Vol. 8, pg. 73-74, 1915.

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