Climate change: Distressing changes to Mount Rainier

Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. was formed in 1969 and is one of the largest mountain guide services in the United States. We lead adventures on all seven continents.

With climate change identified as the greatest threat facing both Mount Rainier National Park and Denali National Park and Preserve, we are proud to say that all of RMI’s programs within these parks are carbon neutral. But that is not enough.

The effects of climate change are very noticeable in the mountainous areas where we guide. The majority of Alaska’s 100,000 majestic glaciers have been in retreat for over half a century, and the rate of recession is accelerating. Reduced spring snowfall, earlier snowmelt and thawing of permanent snowfields threaten these fragile areas.

We must address the causes of climate change. Otherwise we are in jeopardy of losing the most beautiful and vitally important ecosystems on Earth.

We thank U.S. Rep. David Reichert for joining the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, where 18 Republicans and 18 Democrats are investigating economically viable options to mitigate climate risks.

We applaud this example of civil dialogue and cooperative governance, and ask others, including Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler in neighboring District 3, to do the same.

(Martin is operations manager for Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.)

This story was originally published May 24, 2017 at 5:09 PM with the headline "Climate change: Distressing changes to Mount Rainier."