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Review | Into the Thaw: Witnessing Wonder Amid The Arctic Climate Crisis

The climate crisis receives much coverage these days, mostly focused on extreme weather, sea level rise, and dislocation of people by climate-related stresses like drought and wildfire. Declining polar ice and its impact on polar bears gets some coverage, bringing the Arctic into the story, but few of us understand the scope of the impact climate change is having above the Arctic Circle or why we should be concerned about what is happening up there.

Mount Rainier’s Wonderland Trail

Encircling Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State is a historic 93-mile (150-km) loop trail with 22,000 feet (6,705.6 m) of elevation gain and loss. An estimated 200–250 hikers complete the Wonderland Trail’s entire circumference annually, taking between 10–14 days, while thousands of others hike sections of the trail to enjoy the stunning views.