The indigenous name for Mt. Rainier is "Tahoma," or "nurturing breast," and upon looking around the region a bit, it is easy to see why. The mountain is a towering presence, and basically acts as a giant gravity feed for the region's water needs.
Curious, this violent eruption of energy which has produced a topography of elevation, which in turn produces regions of turbulence that alter the weather and reach up into the heavens, catching snow and moisture, letting it then melt and flow throughout the land as the seasons change.
A little turbulence, a little disruption, and you have a biome set into motion, brimming with life. And a little too much turbulence, a little too much energy, and all that life can be swept away. After all, Rainier is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, with lahars that could sweep away much of the life in the surrounding valleys.
