The beauty of Indian Summer

At 4392 m (14410 ft) high Mt. Rainier volcano the Indian Summer fall colors of the leaves peak around early to mid-October.
Being located at 46.9° northern latitude in the Cascade Range the stratovolcano is only 180 km (111 miles) away from the Pacific Ocean coastline. Therefore, the vast amount of precipitation carried inland by the Pacific Ocean weather systems have a direct impact on the Cascade Range and nourish temperate rainforests at low elevations as well as bushes, trees and wildflowers at high elevations. The annual amount of precipitation is above 2100 mm (82 ft) and occurs mainly during the cold season. The volcano receives up to 28 m (93.5 ft) of snow each year which explains its heavily glaciated peak. However, even these glaciers are retreating under Earth’s warming climate.
The fall period causes rapid day to day variations in temperature and weather and a sunny warm day can be followed by 50 cm (20 inch) of fresh snow and blowing ice-cold winds. Every night the temperature drops below freezing level, turning the leaves into a burst of colors.