From The Sky... The Cascade Volcanic Arc!

"The Cascade Volcanic Arc" contains over 20 major volcanoes from Southern British Columbia (Coastal Range) in Canada, south through Washington, Oregon, and Northern California (Cascade Range). This is a section of the Pacific Rim of Fire where the Juan de Fuca Plate is subducting beneath the North American Plate.

Mt Rainier is a 14,411 feet (4,392 M) "stratovolcano" and is a spectacular reminder of the power of Earth's geological forces. It can be seen from much Pugeot Sound and Central Western Washington State. Captain George Vancouver named this volcano after his close friend Rear Admiral Peter Rainier in 1792. It was first climbed in 1870 and it's last eruption was in 1894.




Below Mt Baker rises above the Fraser and Skagit River Valleys. It is 10, 778 ft (3286 M) and is 30 miles (50 KM) east of Bellingham, Washington in Whatcom County. It was originally named "Gran Montaña del Carmelo" by Gonzalo Lopez de Haro in 1790. Captain George Vancouver renamed the mountain for 3rd Lieutenant Joseph Baker of the lead ship on that expedition HMS Discovery who first spotted the mountain on April 30, 1792.

In 1999 the Mt Baker Ski Resort on a nearby peak set the world record for most snowfall in a single season with 95 feet! (2896 cm)

Below the Coastal Mountains surround the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Here you can see parts of Greater Vancouver and the amazing backdrop that it's inhabitants enjoy. If you are lucky enough to fly into Vancouver on a clear day, make sure you have your camera ready!