Renee Hauske reporting

Many visitors head up to experience Mount Rainer for a short day visit and drive home later in the evening. Other visitors stay in the Paradise lodge located adjacent to the visitor center, or set up  camp near the bottom of the mountain. However, this was not the case for Justin and I. The research housing, place for researchers to stay overnight, is located in Nisqually, which is about 45 minutes from Paradise. The commute was quite lengthy for a 7 am wake up call. I originally had planned on making the commute, until I learned that the research housing was full. I searched for campgrounds near the mountain and once again, full. The only option I had left was sleeping in the comfort of my car, my 2007 Chevy Cobalt. This was the only time I had wished I drove a more spacious car. 

The backseat would be my bedroom for the next couple of days. Justin was used to the idea of sleeping in his car, but for me it was a struggle. Last night, my mind drifted between being awake, to asleep, to thinking I was asleep. I slept for a total of one hour.  If you think waking up for class is hard, try waking up at 7am to hike a mountain with an hour of sleep. Despite, the horrible sleep I got, I was eager to learn more about Justin's study and enjoy my time in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

My body shook as I reached for the car door handle. Shivering all night and the sourness of my muscles made it difficult to pack my backpack. Although, this morning instead of seeing the mountain hidden by a thick, low fog, i could see green for miles and the bright mountain smiling. All of the struggles of sleeping quickly escaped and my body was warmed with the excitement to climb back up the mountain today.

View from overflow parking lot

Renee Hausske reporting

Myself at the base of the trail

     Our hike started at the visitor center, and then lead us to the golden gate trail. Justin and I met Tonnie Cummings, a regional air resources specialist with the National Park Service (NPS), at the bottom of our hike. Tonnie accompanied Justin and me on our hike. She gave us information about her job duties working at the NPS.

     The hike up to the sites were a bit easier today. My legs and back were tense from the hike yesterday. Carrying a backpack full of technology, comes at a price. When we got to the first site, I drank an entire water bottle; being thirsty was an understatement.  Then the research commenced!

     The research process was interesting, fun and time consuming. In 2012, Justin packed PVC pipe and homemade gas chambers up the mountain to set twenty different test sites around the Paradise wildflower meadows. The gas chambers consisted on a large PVC pipe hammered into the ground and a portable thick rubber lid to enclose the gas inside. On top of the lids, is a hole with special material that allow a syringe to be inserted without allowing gas to escape.  Justin allowed Tonnie and I help take samples.

The peak of Mount Rainier

     Later on in the day, Justin taught me how to take soil samples, identify plants, and document results in his notebook charts. I spent a lot of time doing real world field work. It was so easy to get caught up in the field work and forget to film; but at the same time, with such a beautiful view, it was hard not to film!

     About every half-hour, a loud thud from a higher elevation of the mountain rang in my ears. At first I stopped filming and looked around to see if I could figure out where the sound was coming from. After many times of looking confused, Justin laughed and told me it was an avalanche. Most of the avalanches couldn't be seen, but I was able to catch a few. It was actually terrifying knowing that there were hikers climbing to the top and avalanches were common. Since it was August, there was only small patches of snow left. Justin said we got lucky with the weather. A week before I came up to the mountain, there was twice as much snow and it was foggy and rainy the whole weekend.

     Tonnie left around four p.m. leaving Justin and me on the mountain to finish collecting results from test sites. Spending the day with Tonnie and Justin opened my eyes to potential careers in the environmental communication field. What a life it would be to be able to communicate about issues I am passionate about. I was so lucky to have Tonnie join us for the day. She took the time out of her busy schedule to accompany Justin's study, which the NPS helps fund. While it was important to get things done at the test sites, the three of us got to know each other on a more personal level. Up on the mountain there are no cell-phones or televisions to distract us. I have to say, it was quite nice not worrying about my phone.

Documenting soil sample results

     We started the hike down a little before dark and took a different route. We came across a tall, roaring water fall spitting out water droplets onto our overheated bodies. It was nice to take a second to admire the mountains' beauty. Thoughts kept running through my head; When can I come up again? I want to work here, how do I make that happen? Crap, I should have put more bug spray on. I hope I can actually sleep tonight. Do I have to leave? When we made it back to our cars, it was lights out. Twelve hours in the field drains every limb inside your body. I was ready to finally get a good nights rest, so I could wake up tomorrow for my final day on the mountain.

Renee Hauske reporting

We saw a deer right off of the trail. He looked
up, saw us and then continued grazing.

     Rise and shine! My phone buzzed against my cheek at 7:30 a.m. telling my body it was time to wake up.

     Unlike yesterday, I woke with a fully recharged body ready to let the mountain consume me. Today was going to be a lot easier of a day then the past two had been; there were no time limits, no worries and as many stops as we wanted on the hike up! Perfection.

Trail post near the start of our hike

On the hike up I was able to fully capture the beauty of scenery that seemed so familiar now. While I was quite happy that I didn't have to make this hike again, an uneasy shock ran through my body. I never thought that I would become so attached to this experience. I would hike up this trail all day and night if it meant I could stay up here forever.

Justin and I posing for a picture at a test site. Thank goodness
for the self timer button on my camera!

     The amazing thing about Justin and his work is that he truly cares for his study. He has invested so much time and effort into his research in order to better our environment.             When I asked Justin why he was willing to let a journalist like me join him on his mountain adventures, he said that he wanted people to become aware of an overlooked issue. Justin truly cares for the environment and is hoping that in the future it will provide information that will be detrimental in aiding a healthy world.

We found a Nike symbol of snow towards the right of
the mountain

     Yes, I was there on a Backpack Journalism scholarship, but what I learned was more than how to operate the thousands of dollars of equipment, or how to effectively report a scientific story; I have learned about conserving the world's most precious resource, our earth.

Renee Hauske reporting

On Friday, August 15^th, I will be heading up to Mount Rainier National Park to document the effects of nitrogen deposition, a type of air pollution, in subalpine meadows. Mount Rainier National Park is 235,625 acres. 97% of the park is designated wilderness for visitors to hike, cross-country ski, camp or simply admire breathtaking views.

View of Mount Rainier

I will be following Washington State University P.h.D candidate Justin Poinsatte to his research sites in the wildflower meadows of Paradise.  

Justin Poinsatte

Over the years, human activity has greatly increased the amount of nitrogen emitted to the atmosphere. Although small amounts of nitrogen are beneficial for plants, too much nitrogen can negatively affect the biodiversity of natural systems.

Nitrogen pollution could lead to the loss of recreational uses that have become of importance to visitors of the park. Another harmful factor of nitrogen pollution is the increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

Poinsatte dedicates his time to researching such harmful effects on sub-alpine ecosystems.

Renee Hauske reporting

 Entrance Sign

Sixty eight miles of tree-lined roads and questionable, yet stunningly beautiful, cliffs separated myself from one of the most impactful experiences of my life. This backpack journalism scholarship started out as an opportunity to build my resume and get real world experience, but what I gained from the four short days on the mountain will stick with me forever.


As I drove through the archway that read, Mount Rainier National Park, my stomach dropped. Not because I was nervous or scared, but because I couldn't wait to throw on my boots, grab my backpack and head up the mountain.


I met Justin at the Paradise visitor center around 5 o'clock and we made the hiked to a few research locations. My initial thought was that I was going to hike up the trial in a breeze; boy was I wrong. The trail was a little over a mile and a half. It doesn't sound like a far trek, but that mile and a half was all uphill.

The camera equipment on my back was the start of my troubles. The tripod felt like I was carrying a small child up the mountain. I huffed and puffed my way to the top, but when we arrived, I was in awe. It is only in the moments you least expect that you find complete bliss and beauty. It was a cloudy day. The mountain was hidden by thick white clouds of fog. The silence sent a calming wave through my bones. However, the feeling of being surrounded by nature's beauty was one I won't forget.

Paradise visitor center

Mountainscape from one of the research sites

The first hour Justin and I hiked through the cloudy backcountry as I watched him conduct a series of tests. When the clouds slowly disappeared, the mountains majestic views came out. An array of wildflower meadows, pointed mountain tops, and greenery could be seen for miles. I found myself staring off into the abyss and getting lost in thought.

Darkness set in as we started down the mountain so Justin put on his headlamp to light the way. Downhill became my favorite word.  The hike down the mountain was significantly easier.
Justin and I got to the visitor center around 9pm and we took Justin's car to the overnight parking lot, a few yards away from the visitor center, where I had left my car. It was time to get a good nights rest to ensure positive exploration on the mountain tomorrow.

Maxwell Reister reporting from Mt. Rainier

Trees and mountains are some of my favorite things, but they certainly make it difficult to get internet access (hence the delay of my first posting). My first night was a restful one, courtesy of the National Park Service's researcher housing at the Nisqually Entrance to Mt Rainier. Jason Williams, an environmental engineering grad student at WSU, met me at the housing and introduced me to his research assistants Camden Nix and Mikell Bova. Williams and his assistants are studying the effects of nitrogen deposition on alpine lake systems as part of the National Science Foundation's Nitrogen Systems Policy-Oriented Integrated Research & Education (NSPIRE). For each testing location, they have to pack in three hiking backpacks full of testing equipment including an inflatable two-man watercraft in addition to their personal camping gear.
The next day we were joined by Tonnie Cummings, a regional air resources specialist with the NPS. We hiked to Lake Allen, two miles and three thousand feet of elevation gain from our car. A piece of necessary testing equipment was misplaced and two members of the group selflessly volunteered to hike back down the hill and return with it in record time. The team enjoyed a partly sunny day at the lake and undampened spirits despite the junglesque moisture level. I interviewed Tonnie with the lake as a background and thanked the journalistic gods for the better-than-studio surroundings. I was slightly worried about moisture getting to my sensitive electronic equipment but plastic baggies kept everything safe. 

Today is an off-day, with a trip to the big city of Elbe (pop. very few), cleaning equipment, and relaxation being the focus. Next up: Hidden Lake

Renee Hausske Murrow College Reporter

Hello, All!

My name is Renee Hausske, and I’m a senior at Washington State University, in Pullman Washington. I will graduate in May 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Science Writing and minor in Environmental Science. I gained a passion for environmental studies after taking classes my freshman year. I will never turn down an opportunity to go outside to explore and learn. I keep my hiking boots in my car just in case! I would ideally like to work for a zoo, an aquarium or a non-profit organization focused on environmental issues. My goal in life is to establish a career that I love doing. I aspire to assure the natural beauty of the environment will be here to stay for generations to come.