Subalpine meadows are one of the most fragile plant communities on Mount Rainier. This is true, in part, because short summers leave little time for plants to grow, flower, and seed. Last winter’s snow can often linger in the meadows as late as August. The growth rate of a subalpine plant is one-tenth that of a plant growing at lower elevations. The soil on which these plants depend takes thousands of years to develop and is easily washed or blown away when disturbed, so please be mindful of where you step.