The Cascade range streches from British Columbia to Northern California. They are part of the Rim of Fire which includes Mount Rainier the highest and Mount St Helens the best known. Mount St Helens erupted in 1980.

Because of the range’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean, precipitation is substantial, especially on the western slopes, with annual accumulations of up to 150 inches in some areas—Mount Baker, for instance, recorded the largest single-season snowfall on record in the world in 1999—and heavy snowfall as low as 2,000 feet.

The Cascades inlcude many national monuments, forests and wilderness areas. Several … Continue Reading