(Photos courtesy of Digital Archives)

As the tallest peak in the Pacific Northwest and one that offers both challenging and comparatively easy routes, Mount Rainier is a magnet for mountain climbers near and far, novice or expert. During the summer, it’s common to see groups of climbers trudging up the mountain from Paradise in hopes of reaching the 14,411-foot summit and earning an amazing view of the surrounding mountains, steep valleys and lowlands below.

Our Digital Archives has some classic 1940-era photos of climbers on Rainier. The top photo shows a group of climbers near deep crevasses on Emmons Glacier, located on Rainier’s northeast slopes. The bottom photo features climbers near the foot of a glacier overlooking the Cascades toward Yakima Park.  The photos, both taken by Bert W. Huntoon, are found in the Progress Commission Photographs, 1937-1945.