Landscape Language
Subalpine (adj) – an ecological zone between forest and alpine elevations
Under the hundreds of inches of snow (yes, hundreds! 185 inches at Paradise as of Monday April 19, 2021) still covering the subalpine regions of the park, are sleeping subalpine meadows. The subalpine zone extends from forest line to tree line, or about 5,000 feet to about 7,000 feet (approx. 1500-2100 meters) elevation on Mount Rainier. Vegetation in this zone is a mosaic of tree clumps and herbaceous meadows and is limited by the depth and duration of the snowpack. Once the snow finally melts out, plants have to make the most of the short growing season, resulting in spectacular displays of wildflowers. Subalpine meadows cover approximately 23 percent of the park. What is your favorite subalpine area?
NPS Photo of a subalpine meadow along the Eagle Peak Trail on August 1, 2020. ~kl