The Mountain Rainier

This fine little documentary about one of the Pacific Northwest's landmarks was an Emmy-award winner a decade ago, and now is being made available on home video. The work of writer/producer Al Stenson, The Mountain Rainier takes viewers on a colorful, historic tour which includes footage from the first ascent up the north face of Pinnacle Peak in 1920 and marvelous scenes of early skiers doing pratfalls on the slopes in the 1930s. Floyd Schmoe, who ran the Paradise Valley area in the early decades recalls many anecdotes from the mountain's initial days of consumer assault. In 1929, a good Sunday afternoon produced as many as 1,000 visitors to the mountain. Now, that figure is more like 15,000 a day. Although near and dear to Pacific Northwesterners, the story of Rainier is likely to be of interest to just about any traveler. Recommended. (Available from: Wehman Video, 2366 Eastlake Ave. E., Suite 420, Seattle, WA 98102.)