Growing up in Washington State, Mount Rainier is omnipresent. Mount Rainier is the boss of mountains out here. Mount Rainier is bred into the culture of the Pacific Northwest -- revered by the Native American tribes that lived in the region for thousands of years. Mount Rainier is symbolic of the Pacific Northwest for its majesty. Mount Rainier is the grand dame of the six major mountains in Washington State. Mount Rainier is also an active volcano (remember Mt. St. Helens, May 1980?)