(Photos courtesy of Washington State Digital Archives)

While it’s never been mistaken for Whistler Mountain or Alpental, Mount Rainier many years ago attracted skiers to its slopes above Paradise during winter.

These photos found in the State Digital Archives offer proof. The shot above, circa 1940, shows someone ski jumping as others watch.

The photo below features two skiers enjoying a chat with “The Mountain” looming large in the background.

The photos are found in the Digital Archives’ State Library Photograph Collection from 1851 to 1990. The collection includes nearly 5,300 photos.

Nowadays, people flock to Paradise during the winter season to enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sliding in the designated snowplay area on innertubes or plastic sleds or saucers. Keep in mind that the snowplay area closes after March 31. Guided snowshoe trips at Paradise also end on March 31.

Judging by the news that at least a foot of new snow is being dumped on higher elevations in the Cascades, there will be lots of white stuff around Paradise for many weeks to come. By the way, Paradise receives an average of nearly 54 FEET of snow each year.

If you’re wondering what the current weather is like at Paradise, just go here to get a good look.