I've been up on Rainier countless times, and each visit is different in terms of photography potential. Even during the summer months, the mountain is "not out" much of the time, meaning that clouds obscure it. But when it becomes visible, even for a few moments, it can create a great vision.
Here is a picture taken from the same spot as the one above, same time of morning but a different day. You can go up there every day and take the same picture from the same place countless times and each will be different.
Even if clouds obscure the mountain, it offers great photography for wild flowers and waterfalls, which are part of the great scenic wonderland.
I have always said that waterfall shots are best taken during overcast conditions where the light is diffused. This reduces contrast and provides more detail in the shadow areas. It also allows the use of a slower shutter speed which will give a more softening effect of the waters, and in my opinion makes it more artistic.
Mt. Rainier is one of the many stratovolcanoes in the Pacific Northwest. Its present elevation is is 14,410 feet, but about 75,000 years ago it stood just over 16,000 feet. Because of it's extreme topography, the mountain provides a number of ecozones that support a variety of plants and wildlife, rising from virgin forest to alpine open terrain garland with flowers, then upward to the icecaps. Rainier supports the single largest glacial system in the lower 48 contingent states
Marmots are very common in the upper talus slope areas, as are pikas
